Russell enjoys ‘big step forward’ in Hungarian GP Qualifying with P4

Mercedes experienced a mixed qualifying session at the Hungaroring. George Russell secured a surprising fourth place, just half a tenth off pole-sitter Charles Leclerc, a significant improvement from earlier sessions. Russell noted the "weird session" with rapidly changing track temperatures and a return to an older suspension setup that seemed to benefit him. He expressed optimism for fighting in the race, despite not knowing what to expect. However, teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli had a challenging time, exiting in Q2 and dropping to 15th after a track limits penalty. Antonelli reported a complete lack of rear-end grip on his final lap, expressing frustration over not being able to show the car's true pace.