Ten poles from ten races. Mercedes have been flawless in qualifying all season, and Kimi Antonelli plus George Russell have made Saturday afternoons feel almost predictable. Almost. Ferrari’s dominant Friday at the Hungaroring suggests today could be the day that streak finally ends.
When Does Hungarian GP Qualifying Start?
Qualifying for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix gets underway at 14:00 UTC on Saturday 25 July. Before that, Free Practice 3 runs from 10:30 UTC. Check the calendar for your local time so you do not miss a lap.
The race itself takes place on Sunday 26 July, starting at 13:00 UTC. See the full race schedule in your local time here.
The Full Hungarian GP Weekend Schedule (UTC)
Saturday 25 July
10:30 UTC: Free Practice 3
14:00 UTC: Qualifying
Sunday 26 July
13:00 UTC: Hungarian Grand Prix (70 laps)
How to Watch the Hungarian GP Qualifying
In the UK, Sky Sports F1 carries every session live. Streaming is available via Now TV for those without a full subscription. Channel 4 offers free highlights later in the day, which is perfectly fine if you enjoy learning the result before watching it.
For international viewers without a local broadcast deal, F1 TV Pro is your best option for live, uninterrupted coverage.
What Is Actually at Stake Today
The championship picture heading into qualifying is worth a moment of your time. Antonelli leads with 204 points, Lewis Hamilton sits second on 159, and Russell is third on 154 after his Spa nightmare. Hamilton holds the all-time record at the Hungaroring with eight wins and nine pole positions, and Ferrari looked genuinely rapid on Friday, topping both practice sessions.
As Mercedes engineer Andrew Shovlin admitted, Friday was “probably our most difficult of the year” on single-lap pace. The long-run data still favours Mercedes, but qualifying is a different beast entirely.
“We have made great progress as a team. It is not the right thing for our long-term development to bring in a new driver right now.” – Toto Wolff
Wolff was talking about the Verstappen rumours, naturally. Verstappen had his own problems to worry about on Friday, finishing outside the top five and admitting the Red Bull was lacking grip in exactly the slow corners the Hungaroring demands. Red Bull’s Friday in Hungary made for grim reading, and qualifying is unlikely to paint a prettier picture.
One Last Race Before Summer
Hungary is the final round before the summer shutdown. What happens in qualifying this afternoon sets the grid for a race that could reshape the championship picture before everyone disappears for a few weeks. The pressure is real, the stakes are high, and for once, Mercedes do not look like nailed-on favourites for pole.
Do not miss it. Check your local qualifying start time on the calendar and find your stream of choice. Today might actually be interesting.
