In extreme conditions at today’s qualifying session for the 2015 Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix, which once again is being held at Budapest’s Hungaroring, Mercedes AMG proved unstoppable. Star driver Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in a session where the air temperature hit 91 degrees F (33 degrees C), and the track over 130 degrees F (54 degrees C).
The Briton posted a 1:22.020 in Q3, which was more than half a second better than the next fastest driver, fellow Mercedes man Nico Rosberg who put in a 1:22.595. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third fastest with a 1.22.739, and impressively Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo put in a 1:22.774 to fill out the second row.
Positions five and six went to Ferrari’s other driver Kimi Räikkönen and Williams’ Valtteri Bottas, respectively. And in the next row will be Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat (seventh) and Williams’ Felipe Massa (eighth). Ninth fastest today was Toro Rosso youngster Max Verstappen, while Lotus’ Romain Grosjean rounded out the top ten.
There weren’t many dramas but it was yet another shocker for McLaren, with Jenson Button suffering ERS issues early on and getting eliminated after Q1. Fernando Alonso suffered a similar fate, with his car coming to a complete halt just as Q2 began. Embarrassingly, the Spaniard ended up pushing his car back into the pits in the hope that it could be repaired.
Going into tomorrow’s race, we’re expecting cooler conditions than today. Hamilton currently leads the Drivers’ Championship with 194 points versus the 177 of Rosberg and 135 of Vettel. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes has 371 points versus the 211 of Ferrari and 151 of Williams.
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