HIGHLIGHTS: Pole for Hamilton and a crash for Sainz – all the action from Hungarian GP qualifying
The Hungaroring was expected to favour the Red Bull RB16B this weekend, but in qualifying at least, it was Mercedes who reigned supreme in the Hungary heat.
Lewis Hamilton took a superb pole position ahead of team mate Valtteri Bottas to ensure a Silver Arrows front row for Sunday's Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen had to make do with third place, his Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez alongside him.
QUALIFYING REPORT: Hamilton roars to Hungary pole, as Bottas denies Verstappen front-row start
As Hamilton was jubilant, Carlos Sainz was left ruing his session after he crashed his Ferrari in Q2 coming out of the penultimate corner, before a heavy whack into the barriers, ending his day and bringing out the red flags so the stewards could clear his car away.
There was also a little of what Red Bull boss Christian Horner termed "gamesmanship" from Hamilton late in Q3 as he got out of the Mercedes garage just ahead of the Red Bull pair, and led them around the track at a slow speed - slow enough that Perez missed out on his final flying run.
See all the action from a sweltering session in Hungary in the video above.
Next Up
Related Articles
TremayneWhy ‘true racer’ Marko will be missed as he leaves Red Bull
Beyond The GridToto Wolff and Hywel Thomas on Mercedes’ 2026 prospects
Sainz hopes point-less finish in Abu Dhabi ‘serves as a wake-up call’
PalmerThe 6 defining moments of Norris’ title-winning season
Bottas embarks on first day as a Cadillac driver
All the drivers taking part in the post-season test