Hungarian Grand Prix LIVE: Lewis Hamilton wins to extend championship lead as Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas crash
Follow the latest from the final Grand Prix before the summer break
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lewis Hamilton starts from pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix with championship rival Sebastian Vettel down in fourth after an action-packed qualifying session.
Two thunderstorms hit the Hungaroring that shook up qualifying, and brought the best out of Hamilton as he left it late to snatch pole away from Mercedes teammate Valttero Bottas, who starts alongside him in second. Kimi Raikkonen claimed third, having at one point looked on course for his first pole in over a year, meaning both Ferraris start behind the Mercedes’ at a track that is supposed to favour them.
Red Bull endured a nightmare day as Max Verstappen could only manage seventh, but at least he made it out of Q2 whereas teammate Daniel Ricciardo failed to do so, leaving him in a lowly 13th. Fernando Alonso starts 11th in the McLaren on what is his 37th birthday, looking to bounce back from another disappointing day.
Follow the live action below...
Please allow a moment for the blog to load...
What time does it start?
The Hungarian Grand Prix gets underway at 14:10 BST on Sunday 29 July.
Where can I watch it?
The race will be shown live at 14:10 BST.
Starting grid
1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 35.658secs
2 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:35.918
3 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:36.186
4 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:36.210
5 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Renault 1:36.743
6 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:37.591
7 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:38.032
8 Brendon Hartley (Nzl) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:38.128
9 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:39.858
10 Romain Grosjean Haas F1 1:40.593
11 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:35.214
12 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:36.442
13 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:36.506
14 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:37.075
15 Lance Stroll Williams No Time
16 Stoffel Vandoorne (Ned) McLaren 1:18.782
17 Charles Leclerc (Can) Sauber-Ferrari 1:18.817
18 Esteban Ocon Force India (Fra) 1:19.142
19 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:19.200
20 Sergey Sirotkin (Rus) Williams 1:19.301
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Hungarian Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton starts from pole position and looks to extend his lead at the top of the drivers' championship.
With the race due to get underway at 14:10 BST, we'll bring you all the build-up action from 13:00.
Yesterday's qualifying session may have been close to a washout, but it's glorious sunshine in Budapest this afternoon and should play right into the hands of Ferrari. With Sebastian Vettel holding an obvious advantage over the pair of Mercedes off the line this season, his best hopes appear to be leading into turn one. Otherwise, Hamilton and Bottas may be able to fend off the Ferraris on the tight and twisty Hungaroring.
A bit of news in regarding a few (and there are quite a few) changes to his car overnight due to damage suffered yesterday.
So how did Saturday's qualifying session unfold? Well, it rained, and then it stopped, and then it rained even harder. That paid off massively for Mercedes on a track where they were expected to beat Mercedes, while Red Bull massively suffered on a track where they were expected to figure right at the front.
David Tremayne was at the Hungaroring to call the shots:
The FIA have confirmed that Lance Stroll will start from the pit lane following his crash during Q2 yesterday. The Canadian dropped a wheel on the exit of turn nine and spun inwards into the barrier, wrecking his front wing in the process, so the team have been working to repair the damage that means he cannot take his place on the grid in 15th.
With that in mind, here's today's updated starting grid:
1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 35.658secs
2 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:35.918
3 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:36.186
4 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:36.210
5 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Renault 1:36.743
6 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:37.591
7 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:38.032
8 Brendon Hartley (Nzl) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:38.128
9 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:39.858
10 Romain Grosjean Haas F1 1:40.593
11 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:35.214
12 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:36.442
13 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:36.506
14 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:37.075
15 Stoffel Vandoorne (Ned) McLaren 1:18.782
16 Charles Leclerc (Can) Sauber-Ferrari 1:18.817
17 Esteban Ocon Force India (Fra) 1:19.142
18 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:19.200
19 Sergey Sirotkin (Rus) Williams 1:19.301
20 Lance Stroll Williams No Time*
Note: Lance Stroll starts from the pit lane after crashing in Q2
TOP FIVE: 1. HAM 2. VET 3. RAI 4. RIC 5. BOT
RET: Leclerc (Lap 1), Verstappen (Lap 6), Vandoorne (Lap 51)
Here's an interesting stat for you: Sebastian Vettel has never won a Grand Prix when starting below third on the grid. he of course starts fourth today, meaning he will have to achieve something that he has never done before since coming into F1.
Green lights on in the pit lane - the paddock comes to life as the cars start to head out, with Vettel exiting just in front of Hamilton as the two look to perfect their starts at the pit exit. Unsurprisingly it's the Ferrari that looks the stronger away.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FERNANDO!
It's Fernando Alonso's 37th birthday today, though with the McLaren down in 11th there is little to cheer for so far today. The Spaniard hasn't won here since 2003 and it's highly unlikely he can challenge for the victory today, but given McLaren's struggles in recent years he's gone well here having finished fifth, sixth and seventh in the last three years.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments