Nico Rosberg did the business in an incident packed, dry-wet, qualifying session to claim pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring, beating his Mercedes teammate and main title rival Lewis Hamilton to top spot on the timing screens.
Rosberg was the only driver to dip below the eighty second mark around the Hungaroring, with a best time of 1:19.965, set on his final flying lap in Q3 on a dry track, except for one wet patch on the exit of the final turn that induced some heart stopping moments.
Rosberg said of his achievement, “It was a really challenging qualifying. In the end it was pretty amazing that it dried out. I got a really good lap in on that last lap. Awesome. Very happy with that.”
On his final run, Hamilton looked a sure candidate for pole, but a yellow flag caused by McLaren’s Fernando Alonso spinning proved to be unlucky for the reigning world champion.
Hamilton reflected, “I felt good on my final lap and was four tenths up. It was unfortunate with Fernando but these things happen. We still have a long race ahead of us and I’ll give everything from there.”
Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo had the bit between his teeth and really took the fight to the Silver Arrows duo. The Australian was third quickest, but only a quarter of second off Rosberg’s benchmark time. The 2014 winner must fancy his chances of upsetting the form book on race day.
Ricciardo commented,”I was up a bit on that last lap, I was up a bit and I was closer to pole so I am a little disappointed about what might have been.”
Sebastian Vettel was fifth for Ferrari, albeit a second down on the top time, while Kimi Raikkonen failed to make it beyond Q2 and ended the day 14th fastest.
Report in progress…
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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