Hamilton masters rain to take pole position

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY » Lewis Hamilton again showed he is untouchable in the rain, producing a brilliant last lap to take pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas on Saturday.

Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff could hardly believe it as he watched from the team motorhome, clutching his head in disbelief as Hamilton beat Bottas’s time to secure a record- extending 77th pole position in difficult track conditions.

Just moments earlier, Mercedes’s Formula One rivals Ferrari were 1-2 with Kimi Raikkonen ahead of Sebastian Vettel.

The scenario changed in a matter of seconds, and Vettel will start in fourth behind Raikkonen.

Earlier Saturday, the third and final practice was held in warm and sunny conditions, but by the time qualifying started there was rain, thunder and even some lightning.

As Ferrari became more cautious, Mercedes stepped it up.

“We couldn’t have expected this,” Hamilton said. “The Ferraris were quicker all weekend, but the heavens opened and it was fair game.”

Bottas finished second behind Hamilton at the rain- soaked German GP last weekend, receiving team orders near the end to hold position and not try to attack Hamilton.

“We are free to fight, so I’m looking forward to it,” said Bottas, looking ahead to Sunday’s race. Although the Finnish driver regularly insists he is on an equal footing with Hamilton, the widely perceived view is that he is effectively No. 2.

The narrow Hungaroring track, nestled in rolling holes on the outskirts of Budapest, is among the most difficult for overtaking circuits in F1. It is considered more favorable to cars with a strong downforce like Red Bull and Ferrari.

It certainly looked that way when the weather was warm and things were going Ferrari’s way, which explains Wolff’s unchecked delight at the end of qualifying.

Vettel was fastest in third and final practice in dry conditions earlier Saturday and also in Friday’s second practice. Hamilton did not finish higher than fourth in all three practice runs.

LASZLO BALOGH — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session for the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix, at the Hungaroring racetrack in Mogyorod, northeast of Budapest, Saturday. The Hungarian Grand Prix will be held on Sunday.