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As it happenedended1532876428

Hungarian Grand Prix LIVE: Lewis Hamilton wins to extend championship lead as Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas crash

Follow the latest from the final Grand Prix before the summer break

Jack de Menezes
Sunday 29 July 2018 15:17 BST
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Formula 1: Official intro video

Lewis Hamilton starts from pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix with championship rival Sebastian Vettel down in fourth after an action-packed qualifying session.

Two thunderstorms hit the Hungaroring that shook up qualifying, and brought the best out of Hamilton as he left it late to snatch pole away from Mercedes teammate Valttero Bottas, who starts alongside him in second. Kimi Raikkonen claimed third, having at one point looked on course for his first pole in over a year, meaning both Ferraris start behind the Mercedes’ at a track that is supposed to favour them.

Red Bull endured a nightmare day as Max Verstappen could only manage seventh, but at least he made it out of Q2 whereas teammate Daniel Ricciardo failed to do so, leaving him in a lowly 13th. Fernando Alonso starts 11th in the McLaren on what is his 37th birthday, looking to bounce back from another disappointing day.

Follow the live action below...

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What time does it start?

The Hungarian Grand Prix gets underway at 14:10 BST on Sunday 29 July.

Where can I watch it?

The race will be shown live at 14:10 BST.

Starting grid

1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 35.658secs

2 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:35.918

3 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:36.186

4 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:36.210

5 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Renault 1:36.743

6 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:37.591

7 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:38.032

8 Brendon Hartley (Nzl) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:38.128

9 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:39.858

10 Romain Grosjean Haas F1 1:40.593

11 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:35.214

12 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:36.442

13 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:36.506

14 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:37.075

15 Lance Stroll Williams No Time

16 Stoffel Vandoorne (Ned) McLaren 1:18.782

17 Charles Leclerc (Can) Sauber-Ferrari 1:18.817

18 Esteban Ocon Force India (Fra) 1:19.142

19 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:19.200

20 Sergey Sirotkin (Rus) Williams 1:19.301

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Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Hungarian Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton starts from pole position and looks to extend his lead at the top of the drivers' championship.

With the race due to get underway at 14:10 BST, we'll bring you all the build-up action from 13:00.

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 07:56
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Yesterday's qualifying session may have been close to a washout, but it's glorious sunshine in Budapest this afternoon and should play right into the hands of Ferrari. With Sebastian Vettel holding an obvious advantage over the pair of Mercedes off the line this season, his best hopes appear to be leading into turn one. Otherwise, Hamilton and Bottas may be able to fend off the Ferraris on the tight and twisty Hungaroring.

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 13:07
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A bit of news in regarding a few (and there are quite a few) changes to his car overnight due to damage suffered yesterday.

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 13:09
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So how did Saturday's qualifying session unfold? Well, it rained, and then it stopped, and then it rained even harder. That paid off massively for Mercedes on a track where they were expected to beat Mercedes, while Red Bull massively suffered on a track where they were expected to figure right at the front.

David Tremayne was at the Hungaroring to call the shots:

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 13:19
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The FIA have confirmed that Lance Stroll will start from the pit lane following his crash during Q2 yesterday. The Canadian dropped a wheel on the exit of turn nine and spun inwards into the barrier, wrecking his front wing in the process, so the team have been working to repair the damage that means he cannot take his place on the grid in 15th.

With that in mind, here's today's updated starting grid:

1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 35.658secs

2 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:35.918

3 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:36.186

4 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:36.210

5 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Renault 1:36.743

6 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:37.591

7 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:38.032

8 Brendon Hartley (Nzl) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:38.128

9 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:39.858

10 Romain Grosjean Haas F1 1:40.593

11 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:35.214

12 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:36.442

13 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:36.506

14 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:37.075

15 Stoffel Vandoorne (Ned) McLaren 1:18.782

16 Charles Leclerc (Can) Sauber-Ferrari 1:18.817

17 Esteban Ocon Force India (Fra) 1:19.142

18 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:19.200

19 Sergey Sirotkin (Rus) Williams 1:19.301

20 Lance Stroll Williams No Time*

Note: Lance Stroll starts from the pit lane after crashing in Q2

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 13:26
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TOP FIVE: 1. HAM 2. VET 3. RAI 4. RIC 5. BOT

RET: Leclerc (Lap 1), Verstappen (Lap 6), Vandoorne (Lap 51)

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 13:28
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Here's an interesting stat for you: Sebastian Vettel has never won a Grand Prix when starting below third on the grid. he of course starts fourth today, meaning he will have to achieve something that he has never done before since coming into F1.

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 13:31
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Green lights on in the pit lane - the paddock comes to life as the cars start to head out, with Vettel exiting just in front of Hamilton as the two look to perfect their starts at the pit exit. Unsurprisingly it's the Ferrari that looks the stronger away.

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 13:34
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY FERNANDO!

It's Fernando Alonso's 37th birthday today, though with the McLaren down in 11th there is little to cheer for so far today. The Spaniard hasn't won here since 2003 and it's highly unlikely he can challenge for the victory today, but given McLaren's struggles in recent years he's gone well here having finished fifth, sixth and seventh in the last three years.

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 13:37
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Interesting comments on the grid from Red Bull chief Dietrich Mateschitz:

"All year we pray for rain and when it comes we weren't any good."

Jack de Menezes29 July 2018 13:46

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