Hamilton on pole in Budapest in the rain, Gasly 6th

The rain, which arrived at the Hungaroring 30 minutes before the start of qualifying, reshuffled the cards and gave rise to a breathtaking session. The suspense remained total until the last moments of Q3, Hamilton taking the best lap during his final attempt.

Down in the dry compared to Ferrari, Mercedes locks the first row with the second place of Valtteri Bottas. Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel follow in close formation just behind.

Carlos Sainz achieved a very nice 5th place for Renault. The Spaniard is ahead Pierre Gasly and Toro Rosso Honda engine. The Frenchman also had his best career performance in qualifying, achieved in Bahrain earlier this season. Taking advantage of the delicate conditions, the Faenza team places its two drivers in Q3 since Brendon Hartley will start 8th.

Between the two Toro Rosso teammates will slip another member of the family Red Bull in the person of Max Verstappen. THE Haas de Kevin Magnussen et Romain Grosjean complete the Top 10.

Even before Q1 kicks off, almost the entire peloton crowds into the Intermediate pit lane to secure a lap before the heavens truly open. But while the storm rumbles all around the circuit and the straight line is wet, the route quickly dries up.

The Renaults are the first to try the challenge of slicks by wearing Ultra-Softs. When they saw the times, all the other drivers followed suit. What follows is a thrilling game of musical chairs as the times drop with each passage. When the music stops, Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren), Charles Leclerc (Sauber), the Force India ofEsteban Ocon and Sergio Pérez, and Sergey Sirotkin (Williams) find themselves on the floor.

At the start of Q2, the majority of competitors once again rushed to take to the track on Ultra-Soft tires to try to set a time before the downpour intensified. Only Vettel waits in his garage. Seeing that the conditions are deteriorating, the German ventures into Intermediates while his little comrades find themselves trapped in a last sector which is now very humid.

With a free track and the right tires, Vettel took the opportunity to sit comfortably at the top of the timesheet. Even better for the Ferrari driver, the rain continues to get heavier, so that no one behind will be able to dislodge him. Main victim of the weather, Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) stops in Q2, just like Fernando Alonso (McLaren), Nico Hulkenberg (Renault), Marcus Ericsson (Sauber), and Lance stroll, who wipes the nose of his Williams against the safety barriers after a spin.

Important tire precision: due to the rain, all the drivers will be able to start on Sunday with the compound of their choice while usually the 10 cars present in Q3 must start with the rubber used during their best effort in Q2. It will be interesting to see which strategies are favored.

The start of the 33rd Hungarian Grand Prix will take place tomorrow at 15:10 p.m. The 12th round of the world championship F1 2018 will be followed live with commentary on CARhebdo.fr.

Q3 CLASSIFICATION

A Qualifying session for the ages in Budapest, with Hamilton splashing his way to pole, earning a 60th front row lockout for @MercedesAMGF1 #HungarianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/2Xi6Eb9sG3

- Formula 1 (@ F1) July 28, 2018