Lewis Hamilton ended his pole position drought by securing the top spot in the qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, setting a new record for the most poles in Formula One history. Hamilton beat his title rival Max Verstappen by 0.315 seconds, while Valtteri Bottas completed the front row for Mercedes.
Hamilton’s pole was his 101st in his career, surpassing the previous record of 100 held by Michael Schumacher. It was also his first pole since the Spanish Grand Prix in May, and his eighth at the Hungaroring, a track where he has won eight times before.
Hamilton said he was delighted with his performance and thanked the fans for their support.
« It feels amazing to be on pole. It’s been a tough season and we’ve been working so hard to close the gap to Red Bull. This is a great result for us and I’m very grateful to the team and the fans. The atmosphere here is incredible and I can feel their energy and love. I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow and hopefully we can deliver a good result, » Hamilton said.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff praised Hamilton’s achievement and said he was confident of a strong race.
« Lewis was phenomenal today. He showed his class and experience and delivered a perfect lap. He has made history again and we are very proud of him. He has a great chance to win tomorrow and extend his record of victories here. We know it won’t be easy, as Red Bull is very competitive, but we are ready for the challenge, » Wolff said.
Hamilton trails Verstappen by eight points in the drivers’ championship, while Mercedes is 12 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ standings. The Hungarian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday at 15:00 local time.
Lew Hawk
Lovie Simone