F1 Hungarian GP live commentary and updates - Qualifying

Hadjar now P3, 1m15.516s.

Alonso, who took his first GP victory here 22 years ago, goes P1 with a 1m15.281 but he's not going to be there for long because Piastri is on a fast one... indeed, Oscar sets a new benchmark of 1m15.211s.

Less than three minutes left and there's a queue to get out of the pits. Leclerc, Hamilton and Lawson yet to get out.

At the moment the top 10 is Piastri, Russell, Antonelli, Norris, Hamilton, Alonso, Hadjar, Stroll, Leclerc and Colapinto. Nobody is safe as there's a lot of improvement to come.

As if to prove that, Stroll improves to P3.

As an indicator of how much slower than their optimum times the McLarens were, the gap between Piastri in P1 and Ocon in P20 is currently 1.229s - not very much at all.

Currently in the drop zone: Sainz, Tsunoda, Bearman, Gasly, Ocon.

Early runners Albon and Sainz slumping down the order (to P15 and P16) as others surmount their times.

Hulkenberg is another visitor to the gravel and he's left some of it on the racetrack.

Decent first hot laps for Lewis Hamilton (1m15.949s) and Fernando Alonso (1m15.979s). That puts them P3 and P4... but here come the Mercedes! Russell posts a 1m15.627s and Antonelli goes round in 1m782s. They are now P2 and P3 ahead of Norris.

On his first run Lando Norris clocks a 1m15.927s. That's P1 - until Oscar Piastri comes around in 1m15.554. Everyone on track at the moment is on previously unused softs.

Replays show Piastri dipping his left wheels into the gravel at the exit of Turn 12 on his hot lap, so there's more to come from him with tidier running.

The Williams drivers are first out on track so naturally Alex Albon currently tops the time sheets with a 1m17.441s. Carlos Sainz locked up on his first run and has returned to the pits effectively empty-handed, with a 1m18.282.

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

I once saw Sean Gilder, of Poldark and Slow Horses fame, in Budapest airport and that is the limit of my local thesp-spotting.

On the world TV feed we have the ubiquitous cut to a celebrity being entertained in a team garage. It's Anya Taylor-Joy with Ferrari; apparently she's in the area because filming is under way on the next Dune movie.

Track temperature now stands at 52C but the clouds are bubbling up around the circuit. What will happen in the next hour? We're just minutes away from FP1 beginning.

There will also be a forfeit for anyone describing George Russell as "Mr Saturday".

Track position is king at the Hungaroring

Qualifying is hugely important in Hungary because this is a tricky circuit on which to pass. Not as tricky as it used to be - remember when 'Terry' Boutsen (as Nigel Mansell called him) held off Ayrton Senna for victory in 1990?

Thierry Boutsen

Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images

It's blazing hot at the Hungaroring but one of the hot topics of the weekend is what to do about spray in wet conditions, following the delayed start to proceedings last week in Belgium. What do you make of Fernando Alonso's eccentric and expensive suggestion? Let us know in the comments...

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Let us remind you that there is a forfeit for anyone who describes the Hungaroring as "Monaco without the walls".

Welcome to qualifying for the 2025 Hungarian GP

And it's looking ominous for anyone not driving a papaya orange car as Lando Norris topped the first two practice sessions yesterday and Oscar Piastri was fastest in FP1 this morning. Both McLaren drivers lapped faster than last year's pole position time and were well clear of the chasing pack.