Williams places both cars in Q2 for the first time since 2018

George Russell 12th, Nicholas latifi 15th, never Williams had not been at such a party recently in qualifying. The Briton had already been able to enjoy a first presence in Q2 during the previous Grand Prix in Austria, but his performance this Saturday in Hungary sounds like a small victory.

In question, climatic conditions which seemed to suit the FW43. « The car came alive in qualifying in these cooler conditions and I had a lot of fun, confesses Russell.

Again, I didn't expect to be that fast, the car handled well and I had good pace. It was a shame for the lap in Q2 (beaten by less than a tenth by Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri)), we had traffic and I think Q3 was possible today, which would have been incredible. But 12th, considering where we were last year, was incredible. »

If the rain did not disrupt the session this Saturday afternoon, there is no doubt that a wet track would not displease Williams, in order to level the performances between the cars.

A thought for Alex Albon

It should be noted that Russell did not fail to send a little word to his accomplice Alex Albon, 13th on the grid after a failed qualification for the Thai from Red Bull, victim of trafficking in Q2. “I have known Alex for 15 years, we follow each other in the paddocks, you know he is one of the best drivers, indicates the resident of Grove, quoted by Sky Sports F1.

«Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, we will all say, he has always been at the forefront in everything he has done and I don't know what's going on. I feel really bad for him because he comes across as an idiot and that's absolutely not the case. He's won everywhere he's been, so I don't know what's going on but they need to fix this. »