LEWIS HAMILTON and Max Verstappen lock horns again after their thunderous clash at the British Grand Prix just two weeks ago.
The pair will get into action at the Hungarian Grand Prix with Hamilton starting on pole today.
- Hungarian Grand Prix – 2pm BST
Stay up to date with all the action from Hungaroring in our live blog…
FROM BEN HUNT AT THE HUNGARORING
Lewis Hamilton lapped up the booing mob as he took the 101st pole position of his career.
The world champion’s bitter feud with Red Bull rival Max Verstappen has spilled over into the grandstands at the Hungaroring, with the Dutchman’s orange army backing their driver.
There were banners in the stands; one said “Sir Cheat: Karam is on its way!” as they blame the Brit for taking out their hero at Silverstone.
But Hamilton, who is going in search of his 100th Formula One victory tomorrow, took it on the chin as Verstappen blew his top as tempers boiled over.
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert tried to quell the boo-boys as he interviewed the pole-sitter, but Hamilton said: “People have a right. This is a sport and people act wildly. It is sport, it is a competition and I don’t take it to heart.
“In the end, I must be doing something right to be up the front!
“I appreciate the great support I’ve had here. I’ve never actually felt so great with the booing. If anything, it just fuels me. So I don’t really mind.”
HAMILTON ON POLE
Lewis Hamilton will start from pole for the Hungary Grand Prix after topping qualifying.
Rival Max Verstappen in third.
THE TOP 10 FOR HUNGARY GP
How the grid will look for tomorrow’s race:
- Hamilton
- Bottas
- Verstappen
- Perez
- Gasly
- Norris
- Leclerc
- Ocon
- Alonso
- Vettel
LEWIS HAMILTON TAKES POLE FOR THE HUNGARIAN GP
The Mercedes man is unable to better his time and it remains Hamilton, Bottas and Verstappen.
HERE WE GO THEN…
But we have a slow train of cars and Hamilton just crosses the line in time for a second crack.
MAX HAS MORE IN THR TANK
Verstappen to his team: “I don’t know why but I just had a lack of grip on this set.”
WOAH – HAMILTON FINDS A STONKING LAP
The stands go silent as the Brit goes quickest on his first attempt with a time 0.550 seconds quicker than the Red Bull man.
It is Hamilton on provisional pole, then Bottas, then Verstappen.
Five minutes to go….
FINAL QUALIFYING SESSION
Max versus Lewis. Who is your money on?
MORE PAIN FOR RICCIARDO
The Aussie is booted out in Q2. He qualified in 11th place and struggling.
To make matters worse for him, he’s seen teammate Norris reach P2 in Q2.
GREEN LIGHT – Q2 SESSION HAS RESUMED
There are six minutes left and it is Hamilton, Leclerc and Verstappen at the top.
In the dropzone are Giovinazzi, Sainz (who is out), Raikkonen, Stroll and Norris.
RED FLAG – SESSION STOPPED – SAINZ HAS CRASHED
The Spaniard was on a flying and lost control at the final corner, sliding sideways into the barriers.
He is fine but his Ferraris is broken. He is out of qualifying.
NOW IT IS HAMILTON’S TURN
The Brit is now topping the timesheets in a game of cat-and-mouse. This is good stuff.
GREEN LIGHT AGAIN AND INTO Q2
Who will make the cut for the top-10 shootout?
TEMPERATURES RISING
Not just the battel between Hamilton and Verstappen. The track temperature has climbed to 62.3 degrees. I am not too sure I can remember when they have been hotter.
RUSSELL IS OUT
The Brit fails to escape Q1 and he is eliminated. The Williams man is out along with Schumacher, Mazepin, Latifi and Tsunoda.
That is disappointing for Russell, who is still yet to score the team’s first points.
VERSTAPPEN LOOKING COMFORTABLE
The Red Bull man leads the way.
FIRST RUNS DONE IN Q1
And Verstappen heads the field from Hamilton.
In the dropzone are Schumacher, who crashed out in last practice and likely to miss out, Mazepin, Latifi, Russell and Tsunoda.
GREEN LIGHT – QUALIFYING IS GO
Qualifying for the Hungarian GP is underway at the Hungaroring. Hamilton vrs Verstappen vrs Bottas.
QUICK SUMMARY
Lewis Hamilton kept Mercedes at the top of the timesheets, pipping Red Bull championship rival Max Verstappen in Saturday’s final practice session for the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix.
The Briton, who trails Verstappen by eight points in the overall standings, lapped the 4.3-kilometer long Hungaroring in one minute, 16.826 seconds, beating the Dutchman by just 0.088 seconds.
Valtteri Bottas, who knocked Verstappen off the top of the timesheets to set the pace on Friday’s opening day of practice, was third in the other Mercedes, 0.229 seconds off his team mate’s benchmark.
The final session of practice, once again run in sweltering heat with track temperatures climbing above 50 degrees Celsius, set up a thrilling battle qualifying between the two title protagonists, with Verstappen gunning for his fifth successive pole and Hamilton his first in six races.
Tensions between the pair are high heading into the weekend after they collided at the last race in Britain, which resulted in a heavy crash for Verstappen with Hamilton overcoming a 10-second time penalty to win.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz, the power unit in his Ferrari changed overnight, was fourth ahead of team mate Charles Leclerc.
Briton Lando Norris was sixth for McLaren ahead of Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez.
SETTING THE PACE
Here is how the cars were during practice 3.
SCENES
Not a bad day in Hungary as Lewis Hamilton stretches his car.
FINAL PRACTICE – HAMILTON TOPS THE SESSION
The world champion sets the quickest time, but it is incredibly close to Verstappen, who is just 0.088 seconds behind him.
Bottas in P3 means this is going to be a really close call for pole position. Qualifying at 2pm UK time.
SESSION HAS RESTARTED
While Schumacher is assessed by the medics, the final practice resumes. There is a near miss in the pitlane as Lance Stroll clips an Alfa Romeo.
And out on track Pierre Gasly also had a close one with an Alfa.
BIG CRASH FOR SCHUMACHER
The German has a high-speed accident and sent spinning into the barrier. He is winded but ok and sent to the medical centre for precautionary checks.
A LOOK AT LAPTIMES
Bottas continues to show his pace. He is in P1, Verstappen in P2 and Hamilton in P3.
I said it yesterday, but this is going to be a close fight for pole position.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk