Cries of joy at the height of satisfaction and relief. While Mercedes has become this season the third force on the circuit behind Red Bull and Ferrari, George Russell surprised his world by signing his first pole position in F1, the first for his team in 2022, at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Saturday July 30 . The Briton achieved a supersonic time in 1′17”377, ahead of the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Driver standings leader Max Verstappen will start from 10th after a power problem in qualifying, just ahead of Sergio Perez.
Toto Wolff all smiles after a qualifying session, this is an image that Formula 1 fans have not seen for some time. The director of the Mercedes team was able to savor, like his driver, the team’s first pole position this season. “I’m in heaven. It was our worst free practice sessions of the season on Friday, and today that last lap went really well. When I crossed the line, I saw on the big screen that I was first, it’s an extraordinary feeling”rejoiced George Russell.
By George! #HungarianGP #F1 (sound on) pic.twitter.com/RXlWOXSm1q
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 30, 2022
While Carlos Sainz seemed to hold the rope to sign pole position with an excellent time that his teammate Charles Leclerc could not beat, the British driver came to arbitrate this duel between Ferrari by signing the best time in the last seconds of Q3 , for four hundredths. His pole position validates the recent progress of the German team, whose two drivers were present on the podium at the Grand Prix de France, a week earlier.
It is also the first time this season that a Silver Arrow will start on the front row, but George Russell will have to contain the Ferraris in the race on Sunday when rain could appear in the skies of Hungary. “We have to focus on tomorrow, we don’t score points in qualifying. The Ferraris looked very fast, with a very good pace, so we will give everything we have”he reacted when he got out of his single-seater.
Further on the grid, Max Verstappen will start from 10th position. The world championship leader, fastest in Q2, was unable to properly defend his chances in Q3, due to an engine power problem. The Alpines had a very good qualifying session, with fifth place for Esteban Ocon, just ahead of Fernando Alonso, sixth.
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION
take a bow, @GeorgeRussell63 #HungarianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/SUmvvRw99c
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 30, 2022
For Pierre Gasly, business is not getting better. As at Le Castellet, the Frenchman did not go into Q2 and will start from 19th position, due to a canceled time for having exceeded the limits of the track. “I’m disgusted because it was a good lap that allowed us to go into Q2, with a thirteenth time. This season there are a lot of problems with the track limits, it must have been played for five centimeters, c it’s a pity”he regretted at the microphone of Canal + Sport.