Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli given Hungarian GP grid penalties which shuffle race grid headed by Lando Norris
World championship's top-two drivers given post-qualifying grid penalties; Hamilton drops to fifth with Antonelli seventh; watch Sunday's race at 2pm with build-up from 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event
Saturday 25 July 2026 19:10, UK
Lewis Hamilton and world championship leader Kimi Antonelli have been given penalties to shuffle the order at the top end of the Hungarian Grand Prix grid.
Ferrari's Hamilton was first handed a three-place demotion from second place in the hours after qualifying for impeding McLaren's Oscar Piastri at the end of Q3.
That initially dropped the Ferrari driver behind Antonelli, who had originally qualified fourth, before the Mercedes driver was then handed a three-place demotion himself for failing to slow sufficiently for yellow flags when Max Verstappen spun at the last corner.
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Hamilton will now start fifth and Antonelli seventh, behind Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
McLaren's Lando Norris claimed pole position after topping qualifying with Hamilton's penalty promoting team-mate Charles Leclerc onto the front row in second place.
Piastri moves up to third with Red Bull's Verstappen taking over fourth having originally qualified sixth.
Why Hamilton was given a three-place grid penalty
Hamilton had been the first of the leading drivers to complete his final lap - positioning he was left surprised by - and as he slowed down once he crossed the line, he appeared to block Piastri through Turn One as the McLaren started its final timed attempt behind him.
Stewards summoned both drivers and team representatives after qualifying to review the incident and ultimately judged that Hamilton had unnecessarily impeded Piastri, handing him a three-place grid demotion.
Speaking before the penalty was confirmed, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said any blame fell on the team and not Hamilton.
Vasseur told Sky Sports F1: "We told him [about Piastri] but it was far too late.
"If there's a mistake, it's our mistake."
Hamilton himself said soon after qualifying: "I was told literally when he was at the apex behind me, so I had no idea he was coming. I thought everyone came out behind me. I was the first out, so I thought everyone had finished the lap.
"I think Charles was coming up behind me when I left the pit lane, as far as I was aware.
"Crazy, because it had been clean, and obviously it wasn't intentional."
The stewards' Hamilton verdict in full
"The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 44 (Lewis Hamilton), the driver of Car 81 (Oscar Piastri), team representatives and reviewed video, telemetry, team radio and in-car video evidence.
"At the approach to Turn 1, Car 44 was travelling at a significantly reduced speed on the racing line while Car 81 was approaching on a push lap.
"The driver of Car 44 explained that he had just completed a fast lap and did not receive the team's radio message regarding the approaching Car 81 until the latter was already in close proximity. He further stated that, due to the positioning of his car on the track, Car 81 was not visible in his mirrors.
"Car 81, which was on a push lap, was forced to take avoiding action by running wide and being obliged to abort the lap. Having examined the available evidence, the Stewards determined that Car 44 unnecessarily impeded Car 81 during qualifying."
Sky Sports F1's Hungarian GP schedule
Sunday July 26
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: Porsche Supercup
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Hungarian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Hungarian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
5pm: Ted's Notebook*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix with Sunday's race at 2pm and build-up from 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
