F1 Hungarian Grand Prix: What is the starting order for today’s F1 race?
Charles Leclerc shocked the Formula 1 world to take pole position for today’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
But he will have several very fast cars in his rear-view mirrors when the lights go out, starting with the quick McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri alongside him in P2, and Lando Norris right behind him in P3.
Add in some potential wet weather and varying tactical options that teams can employ, including any combination of one- and two-stop strategies, and you have the makings for a fascinating Hungarian Grand Prix.
Here is how the grid is expected to line up for today’s race. Bear in mind that this may change before lights out — scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Eastern — as drivers and teams decide to make changes to their cars, requiring a start from the pit lane. This is the approach Lewis Hamilton used at the Belgian Grand Prix last week after he was eliminated in Q1. Ferrari made some changes to his SF-25, and he rebounded with a drive into the points.
Do not be surprised if we see something similar from drivers in the field, including perhaps Hamilton himself, this morning:
Hungarian GP Final Starting Grid
| Row | Position | Driver | Team | Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row | Position | Driver | Team | Position | Driver | Team |
| Row 1 | 1 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| Row 2 | 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 4 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| Row 3 | 5 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 6 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| Row 4 | 7 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 8 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| Row 5 | 9 | Liam Lawson | VCARB | 10 | Isack Hadjar | VCARB |
| Row 6 | 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 12 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| Row 7 | 13 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Williams | 14 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| Row 8 | 15 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 16 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| Row 9 | 17 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 18 | Nico Hülkenberg | Sauber |
| Row 10 | 19 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 20 | ||
| Pit Lane | Pit Lane | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
Update: We do have one driver starting from pit lane in Yuki Tsunoda. Red Bull changed power unit components and the brake cooling configuration on his RB21 under parc ferme conditions, including a new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), a new Turbo Charger (TC), a new Motor Generator Unit – Heat (MGU-H), and a new Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K). All of these are in excess of the allowed number each season, requiring a ten-place grid drop each, for 40 places.
While that drops him to the back of the field, the changes made to the brake cooling configuration came under parc ferme conditions, requiring a pit lane start.