Leclerc experienced his own frustrations in Hungary, at the track he declared to be his worst in Formula One heading into the weekend. The 27-year-old seized a surprise pole position from the grasp of the title-hunting McLaren duo, but things unravelled after the lights went out.

The McLarens took second and third, with Oscar Piastri ahead of Lando Norris. After topping the earlier qualifying sessions, they were undone by changing conditions in overcast Budapest, where Aston Martin starred and not even Max Verstappen could overcome the Red Bull’s car deficiencies on this technical, low-speed course.