Hungary – Qualifying: Vettel, undisputed!
Ferrari's Scuderia was not in a sharing mood this Saturday at the Hungaroring: Vettel dominated the session from start to finish to secure his second pole of the season! Kimi Räikkönen joins the front row at the last moment. Valtteri Bottas will start ahead of a Lewis Hamilton outdone by managing his tires.
A beautiful sun and high temperatures welcome the drivers at the start of the qualifying session: 31 degrees but especially 54 degrees on the narrow Hungaroring track at the time of the green light.
Q1: Vettel still the best, Di Resta within the 107% and not last
In the background this morning, the Mercedes waste no time at the start of the first part. Bottas and then Hamilton go out in the very first seconds, Paul Di Resta, stepping in for Massa, follows the Mercedes. In his first attempt, Bottas makes a mistake in the 2nd sector and immediately aborts his effort to save his tires.
Green light, #Q1 is on! #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/A5GWpcxf4p
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) 29 juillet 2017
Hamilton, better than this morning, places his car at the top of the timing sheet with a 1:17.905, but Räikkönen quickly surpasses the Brit with a 1:17.382. Vettel is positioned between the two drivers in 2nd place. As a substitute for the day, Di Resta shows a good adaptation to the 2017 car, ranking 14th, two seconds behind Stroll.
Worried this morning due to his breakdown in FP3, Ricciardo shows his form with a 4th time at 680 thousandths behind Räikkönen. Verstappen beats him to it and recovers the 4th time by 37 thousandths. Beyond the 6th place, behind the top 3 teams, we find the McLarens and the Renaults as was the case during the practice sessions. Vandoorne is 7th ahead of Hülkenberg, Alonso, and Palmer.
With 6 minutes remaining in the session, Grosjean, Ericsson, Wehrlein, Di Resta, and Magnussen are in the red zone.
K-MAG catches some air #Quali #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/vRuhaGOfGs
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 juillet 2017
The Dane still hasn’t set a time, and his mistake at the chicane is unlikely to help matters. Romain Grosjean climbs to 12th place and pushes Pérez into the red zone, Magnussen follows and pushes Stroll to 16th place. Despite a lack of performance this weekend, the Force India drivers are currently saving their place in Q2, with Ocon in 12th and Pérez in 14th.
In the last possible lap, Daniil Kvyat violently loses the Toro Rosso at turn 4 but doesn’t crash; however, he ends the final efforts of all the drivers by causing a yellow flag. A stroke of bad luck for Magnussen who sets the same time as Pérez, but only the Mexican is saved to advance to Q2.
BREAKING: ELIMINATED, Q1
16 MAG
17 STR
18 WEH
19 DIR 📸
20 ERI#Quali #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/1gsT18vTt4— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 juillet 2017
Q2: Hamilton regains the record in the second part
As in Q1, Bottas and Hamilton quickly take to the track. On the radio, the Briton complains about small vibrations in his wheels. Bottas sets the fastest time, Hamilton takes it back, but imperial since the start of the day, Vettel cuts short any opposition by clocking a 1’16”802. Räikkönen places third behind Hamilton.
FASTEST SECTORS: @ScuderiaFerrari are flying in Q2 #Quali #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/lDO9HjG8ET
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 juillet 2017
Well-inspired, Max Verstappen jumps to 2nd place and positions himself 0.226 seconds behind Vettel. In their first attempt, Alonso and Vandoorne place 7th and 8th, not accounting for Hülkenberg who climbs to 6th place, pushing back the McLaren drivers.
Proud Dad 👨👦 @Max33Verstappen posts a 1:17.028s (P2) #Quali #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/NFh6ZKpT7l
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 juillet 2017
At mid-session, the drivers at risk of relegation are Palmer, Sainz, Kvyat, Grosjean, and Pérez. Esteban Ocon is currently safe but not in the clear as Palmer and Sainz are less than 70 thousandths of a second behind the Frenchman. It is now time to head out for one last run.
After being a tenth behind in the first sector, Hamilton completes a nice lap and sets the best time at 1:16.693, a tenth ahead of Vettel. Romain Grosjean improves but stays 13th in the red zone. Carlos Sainz saves his place by moving up to 10th. Disappointment for Force India, with no driver in Q3 this weekend.
BREAKING: ELIMINATED, Q2
11 PAL
12 OCO
13 KVY
14 PER 📸
15 GRO#Quali #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/WlT4CXtoPM— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 juillet 2017
Q3: A pole for Vettel and a one-two finish for Ferrari
GREEN in #Q3… This. Is. It! The shootout for #HungarianGP pole is coming up 🙌 #F1
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 29 juillet 2017
In this order, Bottas, Vettel, Hamilton, and Räikkönen set off to attack the clock. On the line, Bottas clocked a 1’16″631, but Vettel recorded a 1’16″276, and Hamilton returned directly to the pits, dissatisfied with his tires and after going off at turn 4.
Ricciardo is in 3rd place ahead of Räikkönen by 0.002 seconds, positions are going to be in high demand in this Q3!
Hülkenberg is 5th ahead of Alonso and Vandoorne. Verstappen climbs to 3rd place and pushes his teammate off the podium. At mid-session, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz don’t have a time yet.
5️⃣ MINS TO GO IN Q3
TOP 5
VET
BOT
VER 📸
RIC
RAI(HAM yet to post a time)#Quali #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ylxF99oevM
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 juillet 2017
Still unhappy with the balancing of his wheels, Hamilton fails to shine and records the 3rd fastest time behind Bottas. In a final attempt, Vettel falls short by 2 thousandths of a second to improve his record. Räikkönen emerges and takes second, it’s a one-two for Ferrari ahead of the Mercedes and Red Bulls.
INITIAL CLASSIFICATION (END OF QUALIFYING): A 48th career pole for Sebastian Vettel 👏 #Quali #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/J3q2iQeRk6
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 juillet 2017
