Lewis at the Max to blast his way to pole
Lewis Hamilton blew the Formula One title door wide open yesterday by putting his Mercedes on pole for today’s 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 team-mate Hamilton to form an allmercedes 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 today 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.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez was fourth ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly.
Young Brit Lando 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 righthander Turn 11 and slammed into the tyre wall.
He will start from today.
British driver George Russell will line up 17th after he failed to progress from Q1 for the first time this season.