2023-07-24 03:08:15
Sunny. Dry. Air +24…26С, route +44…42С
Qualifying at the Hungaroring is the key session of the weekend. Overtaking on the Hungarian track is difficult even with DRS, the starting position determines the result, there are no strategy options – if it doesn’t rain, everyone will try to drive the race with one pit stop.
On Friday, rain slightly dampened the track, forcing riders to return to the pits, but on Saturday it was dry, and on Sunday the forecast does not promise precipitation.
The FIA and Pirelli proposed a new qualification format, discussed for several months – only Hard in the first session, only Medium in the second – and Soft in the third, which reduced the number of tire sets that were brought to the Grand Prix and then disposed of. The result was predictable, as well as from other similar initiatives – the environment did not win, Formula 1 lost.
In the first session traffic interfered, cars on Hard tires slid on a hot, sandy track, but held on. How did the spectators in the crowded stands. The most difficult thing was for the stewards, who looked at the photos from the race directorate, in which the riders left the track. Obviously, this rule just needs to be abolished.
The best time was shown by Guanyu Zhou, having driven a lap in difficult conditions in 1:18.143. Albon, Tsunoda, Russell, Magnussen and Sargent were eliminated from the fight.
In the second session you might use Medium tires – and they kept much better on the pavement. The results grew, the riders began to attack more actively, but there were also more penalties. In particular, the best time of Verstappen was annulled – he returned to the pits and lost this set of tires.
The best time was shown by Lando Norris. Sainz, Ocon, Riccardo, Stroll and Gasly did not qualify for the final. Fifteen riders fit in nine-tenths!
In the final on Soft speeds have increased. In the first attempt, Verstappen completed the lap in 1:16.612, Lewis was just 0.126 behind him, and in the second he was faster, taking his first pole since 2021, 104th in his career – and ninth in Hungary – this is an absolute record.
Hamilton and Verstappen will share the first row of the starting field, Norris and Piastri will start the race from the second, Zhou and Leclerc from the third.
Qualification results
Driver Team 1st session 2nd session 3rd session M Time Kp M Time Kp M Time Kp 1. L. Hamilton Mercedes 7 1:18.577 8 2 1:17.427
1
1:16.609
6
2. M. Verstappen Red Bull 2 1:18.318 9 3 1:17.547 6
2
1:16.612
6
3. L.Norris McLaren 10 1:18.697 11 1 1:17.328 3
3
1:16.694
6
4. O. Piastri McLaren 6 1:18.464 9 5 1:17.571 5
4
1:16.905
6
5. G.Zhou Alfa Romeo 1 1:18.143 10 9 1:17.700 6
5
1:16.971
6
6. Sh. Leclerc Ferrari 5 1:18.440 9 6 1:17.580 6
6
1:16.992
6
7. V. Bottas Alfa Romeo 12 1:18.775 8 4 1:17.563 6
7
1:17.034
6
8. F.Alonso Aston Martin 8 1:18.580 9 10 1:17.701 6
8
1:17.035
6
9. C.Perez Red Bull 3 1:18.360 8 8 1:17.675 9
9
1:17.045
6
10. N. Hulkenberg Haas 9 1:18.695 8 7 1:17.652 6
10
1:17.186
6
11. C. Sainz Ferrari 4 1:18.393 9
11
1:17.703
6
12. E.Ocon Alpine 14 1:18.854 10
12
1:17.841
6
13. D.Riccardo AlphaTauri 15 1:18.906 9
13
1:18.002
6
14. L. Stroll Aston Martin 13 1:18.782 10
14
1:18.144
8
15. P. Gasly Alpine 11 1:18.743 10
15
1:18.217
6
16. A. Elbon Williams
16
1:18.917
8
17. Y. Tsunoda AlphaTauri
17
1:18.919
9
18. D.Russell Mercedes
18
1:19.027
9
19. K. Magnussen Haas
19
1:19.206
8
20. L. Sargent Williams
20
1:19.248
8
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#Hungarian #Grand #Prix #Hamilton #pole
