F1: Lewis Hamilton blows title race wide open with pole at Hungarian Grand Prix
Championship leader Max Verstappen qualified third, with Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas second
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lewis Hamilton blew the Formula One title race wide open by putting his Mercedes on pole for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion, so often the master here at the Hungaroring, delivered a spellbinding lap to silence the thousands of Max Verstappen supporters.
Verstappen could finish only third, with Valtteri Bottas joining teammate Hamilton to form an all-Mercedes front row.
Hamilton, just eight points behind Verstappen following his controversial British Grand Prix win a fortnight ago, will head into the concluding round before the summer break with the chance to take the championship lead after racing to his first pole in almost three months.
Hamilton has now recorded eight poles in Hungary and will on Sunday bid to become the first driver to win at the same venue on nine occasions – and in the process claim his landmark 100th win.
“Great effort, guys,” said Hamilton over the radio. “Absolutely fantastic job.”
Hamilton, who was booed by Verstappen’s ‘Orange Army’, added afterwards: “It was an amazing qualifying lap. The guys back at the factory have not left any stone unturned. I appreciate the great support we have here.
“I have never felt so grateful for the booing. I don’t mind it. It just fuels me.”
Verstappen simply had no answer around the 14 corners that make up the slow and twisty 2.72-mile Hungaroring, finishing four tenths behind his rival. His Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was fourth ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly.
Lando Norris is behind only Verstappen and Hamilton in the championship and the young Briton delivered another fine performance here. Norris finished sixth, half-a-second faster than Daniel Ricciardo in the other McLaren who was knocked out of Q2 and qualified only 11th.
Q2 was red-flagged for eight minutes after Carlos Sainz’s afternoon ended in the barriers. The Spaniard carried too much speed on the entry to the final corner and hit the wall in a plume of tyre smoke.
Mick Schumacher was unable to take part in qualifying after he crashed out of final practice. The German, 22, lost control of his Haas through the right-hander Turn 11 and slammed into the tyre wall.
Schumacher was winded in the accident and taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks following the high-speed impact which registered at more than 30G.
But despite being given the all-clear, the significant damage sustained to his machine left Schumacher as a bystander for qualifying. He will start last on Sunday.
British driver George Russell will line up 17th after he failed to progress from Q1 for the first time this season.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments