(Budapest) Lewis Hamilton earned the lead in the Hungarian Grand Prix from Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, who started the last five races in first place.
The Mercedes driver was only ahead of Verstappen by three thousandths of a second on his last lap.
It earned him a 104e head (a record he extended), but a first since December 2021, in Saudi Arabia.
“The last year and a half has been crazy,” Hamilton said. I didn’t think we would be in a position to fight for the lead. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep tonight. »
PHOTO ATTILA KISBENEDEK, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Lewis Hamilton driving his Mercedes during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix
It may not be easy, given the adrenaline rush.
“I had a big smile on my face,” said Hamilton, who has seven Formula 1 titles. “It feels so good to our whole team. I gave absolutely everything in the last lap. »
It was also in Saudi Arabia two years ago that the 38-year-old Englishman bagged his most recent Formula 1 victory, a 103e.
McLaren’s Lando Norris will start third behind Red Bull’s Verstappen.
PHOTO MARTON MONUS, REUTERS
Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton
Norris is looking for a second podium in a row, having finished second at the British Grand Prix.
His teammate Oscar Piastri qualified fourth – the same rank he finished at Silverstone.
The Hungaroring was the scene of Hamilton’s first win with Mercedes in 2013.
Verstappen was limited by a lack of grip in an unbalanced car.
“At this point, we haven’t had the desired results with the car we have,” he summed up.
Last year, he triumphed on this track despite a 10e place at the start.
Verstappen is heading for a third consecutive Formula 1 title, on the heels of six straight wins.
He has a 99-point cushion ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who will start ninth.
Since his top spot in Miami in May, Perez hadn’t qualified for the top 10 once at the start, securing the 16th, 11th, 12th, 15th and 15th spots there.
Canadian Lance Stroll will leave 14e on the side of Aston Martin.
“It was frustrating to have seen my first lap of the second qualifying round scrapped because of the track limitations at turn number 12. I was pushing hard and it’s hard to know where the line is because you can’t feel it,” the Quebec driver said in Aston Martin’s official statement.
“The field is very tight and the margins are slim between all the teams and tomorrow we will be looking to make the most of any opportunity that comes our way,” he added.
Spaniard Fernando Alonso, Stroll’s teammate at Aston Martin, will start from eighth place.
“I think our performance is better than our results suggest. Looking ahead to the race, we know it’s tough to overtake here, and I think it will be tough tomorrow. We will try to get the maximum and aim for the top-6 to score as many points as possible,” said Alonso.