Formula One – Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2023 Hungarian GP. Lewis Hamilton (Source: Mercedes-Benz)
MOGYORÓD, Hungary – The 7-time World Drivers Champion, Lewis Hamilton, looked to be back in form at a track where he had achieved the pole eight times previously. Following almost a year and a half of trying to work their way back to the top, Mercedes and Hamilton looked to showcase all that they have worked on to hopefully close the gap to Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
The previous night and Friday’s rain had cleared out and a green track was what greeted the Formula 1 paddock when the Saturday sessions opened up at the Hungaroring for the final hour of practice and the qualifying sessions. Tire strategy was the game plan with the tire allocations in place for the qualifying session, which would see teams run the Hard tires for round 1, Medium tires for round 2, and Soft tires in the third and final round.
With the allocations in place, a majority of teams went with used tires through a majority of the session while they gathered data for the upcoming qualifying and Sunday’s grand prix. Verstappen put up the first fastest lap, but after a less-than-ideal Friday having spent both sessions at the bottom part of the timing sheets, Hamilton found himself at the top of the timing sheet ahead of his 2021 title contender. A spot he held onto through the rest of the session.
Behind Hamilton and Verstappen, Sergio Perez became another one who turned his Friday troubles around and found himself behind his teammate. An impressive run from the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg brought it home fourth on the timing sheets while the continued improvements of the McLaren are shown as Norris closes out the Top 5 on the timing sheets.
A relatively quiet practice session set up what will become one of the most exciting qualifying sessions of 2023.
Formula One – Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2023 Hungarian GP. Lewis Hamilton (Source: Mercedes-Benz)
Hard tires and Alfa Romeo highlighted the first round of qualifying. Valtteri Bottas found himself in a familiar spot from years back topping the timing charts in a car that normally doesn’t climb high up the timing sheets. The other Alfa of Zhou Guanyu later in the session found himself at the top of the timing charts surprising just about everyone.
But once again, track limits became a fixture of the weekend. In just the first round, drivers like the Haas of Kevin Magnussen, both Williams’ cars of Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, plus McLaren’s Oscar Piastri found at least one of their lap times deleted. However, the biggest shock of the session came when defending pole winner, Mercedes’ George Russell, had a suprising exit after being eliminated in Q1. He was joined by both Williams’ cars of Albon and Sargeant, the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda, and the Haas of Magnussen.
Medium tires and McLaren strength highlighted a relatively quiet second round. Verstappen set an early benchmark, but a track limits violation caused him to make a second run. But it was Norris’ McLaren leading the way with his teammate Piastri in tow. After missing the previous five Q3 sessions in various ways, Perez made it out of Q2 along with the Haas of Hulkenberg.
There was another shocking early exit as the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz failed to make it to the third round, barely missing out on the cut. He was joined by the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll, and in his return to F1, the AlphaTauri of Daniel Ricciardo.
Soft tires for the third and final round meant that teams were finally unleashed. Verstappen set the benchmark in the Red Bull for his first run for the pole with Hamilton and Norris in tow, setting the stage for how the final round will look. The final minutes of the session came up and drivers went out trying improve on their times. Verstappen went out first but was not able to improve on his time.
All eyes went towards Hamilton, trying to break through for his first pole since Jeddah back at the end of 2021. Once he crossed the line, Hamilton had achieved the pole. It breaks Red Bull Racing’s stranglehold at the top of the grid for qualifying sessions for the first time in 2023. Hamilton beat out Verstappen by just .003 seconds.
Behind the 2021 title rivals, the McLaren pair of Norris and Piastri locked out Row 2, taking third and fourth, respectively. Early qualifying session standouts Alfa Romeo had Guanyu and Bottas sandwich the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc behind the pair of McLarens. Fernando Alonso brought his Aston Martin home in eight, with Perez in ninth and the Hulkenberg rounding out the Top 10.
Eyes now turn to Sunday for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Will Hamilton be able to hold off the strength of Red Bull and Verstappen, or will it be another victory to extend their World Championship lead?
