Qualifying for the 11th round of the 2026 F1 season, the Hungarian Grand Prix, takes place today, Saturday, July 25, at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród, Hungary. According to Racingnews365, the session begins at 16:00 local time in Budapest, which corresponds to 15:00 BST in the United Kingdom and 10:00 a.m. ET. The session will follow the standard format of one hour divided into three segments.
Qualifying Schedule and Broadcast Details
Fans can access the qualifying session through multiple platforms. The BBC will provide commentary via Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website, and app. In the United States, Apple TV holds exclusive broadcasting rights, offering coverage in 4K Dolby Vision with immersive 5.1 surround sound and a Multiview experience.
Championship Stakes and Driver Standings
The event serves as the final race weekend before the F1 summer break and a four-week shutdown. The championship battle is currently led by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who has won six races this season and holds 204 points after 10 races.
The stakes for the weekend are high for several top contenders:
- Kimi Antonelli: Leading the championship, Antonelli enters the weekend with a 45-point lead over Lewis Hamilton and a 50-point lead over George Russell.
- Lewis Hamilton: The seven-time world champion is seeking an unprecedented ninth Hungarian GP victory. A win would keep him in contention for a record-breaking eighth world championship title.
- George Russell: Russell is looking to bounce back following a lap one crash at the Belgian GP.
- Charles Leclerc: After triumphing at Silverstone, Leclerc and Ferrari are attempting to close the gap on Mercedes.
Team Dynamics: Mercedes vs. Ferrari
Mercedes has maintained a dominant start to the season, securing an unbeaten 10 poles. The team is now attempting to achieve 11 straight poles with the pairing of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
However, Ferrari remains a significant threat. According to Formula 1, Ferrari trails the “Silver Arrows” by 73 points in the Teams’ standings. Ferrari has shown the pace to win the last two Grands Prix, and Charles Leclerc previously took pole at the Hungaroring last year. Leclerc noted that while the tight and twisty layout of the track should suit the Ferrari cars, the team cannot take their performance for granted.
Weather Forecast and Race Conditions
Weather conditions for the qualifying session on July 25 are expected to be clear and hot. GPFans reports a zero per cent chance of rain during qualifying, with temperatures reaching approximately 28 degrees Celsius and humidity at 25 per cent.
These conditions will lead into Sunday’s race on July 26, which is forecast to be the hottest day of the weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius at the 15:00 local time start (lights out), with a “real feel” of 33 degrees Celsius. While there is a zero per cent chance of rain at the start, the likelihood of rain increases as the 70-lap race progresses.
Weekend Event Summary
| Date | Event | Local Time (Budapest) | Time (BST) | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 25 | Free Practice 3 | 12:30 | 11:30 | 6:30 a.m. |
| July 25 | Qualifying | 16:00 | 15:00 | 10:00 a.m. |
| July 26 | Hungarian GP Race | 15:00 | 14:00 | 9:00 a.m. |
Worth a look
