Formula One

Hamilton stuns with pole position in Hungary

Andrew Rickert

Jul 23, 2023 — 3 min read

Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix with a stunning lap around the Budapest circuit as drivers and teams negotiated new tyre rules.

Lewis Hamilton celebrates pole position in Hungary. *(Steve Etherington / Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team)*

While teammate George Russell was knocked out in 18th after struggling with traffic on his lap, Hamilton progressed through to Q3 and delivered a lap just three thousandths of a second faster than Max Verstappen in second.

“Pole position is an amazing feeling!” said Hamilton.

“I feel so grateful because the team have worked so hard.”

“We've been pushing so much over this time so to finally get pole position is great, it feels just like the first time. I didn't expect that we'd be fighting for P1 coming here today. When I started my final lap, I gave it absolutely everything. There was nothing left in it.”

Hamilton celebrates with Mercedes mechanics in pit lane. *(Steve Etherington / Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team)*

It is the first pole position for Hamilton since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, reigniting the battle with Max Verstappen from the controversial race.

“There's been plenty of ups and downs over the past 18 months,” said Hamilton.

“It's been a roller-coaster ride, but none of us have lost faith. We've all just hauled together and stayed united. We're focusing on trying to steer the car in the right direction.”

“It has been tough, and will continue to be so at times, but I think this shows that we're on the right track and we can do it if we keep pushing.”

“I have to try and sleep tonight now! Tomorrow, we'll bring our A-game as a Team.”

“It's going to be difficult to fight Max and Lando but let's see what we can do.”

McLaren was the other standout team in qualifying as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked out the second row of the grid.

Norris will have a slight advantage on Sunday as the only driver in the top ten to keep a set of new mediums for the grand prix, with drivers mandated to use the hard tyre in Q1, medium compound in Q2, and soft in Q3 by the experimental tyre rules.

Tyre analysis from Saturday at the Hungarian Grand Prix - click to expand. *(Pirelli)*

"I think this was a very interesting qualifying, with the new format posing various challenges for the drivers,” said Pirelli director of motorsport Mario Isola.

“It made for even closer times and more unpredictability than at previous events.”

“That can be seen from the fact that seven teams are represented in the top ten and the fastest ten qualifiers are all within six tenths of each other.”

Daniel Ricciardo will start 13th for the grand prix in his return to the F1 grid, making it through to Q2 with a lap just one tenth of a second quicker than teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

The Hungarian Grand Prix is underway 11pm Sunday (AEST).

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2023 Formula One World Championship - Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying Result