28/07/2018
NEWS STORY
As is so often the case with F1, events away from the race track almost overshadowed the track action earlier, as it was confirmed that Force India has gone into administration.
Surely, however, it is merely coincidence that since it was confirmed earlier that Sergio Perez was behind the legal action, the Mexican finished 19th in this morning's session.
As expected, Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari led the way, however, Valtteri Bottas gave the German a run for his money, finishing just 0.059s off the pace.
However, on their qualifying sims as they pushed ever harder to close the gap to Ferrari, both Silvers Arrows driver spun, both at the chicane, and when advised of Vettel's best time, Lewis Hamilton admitted "I haven't got the grip".
With Ferrari so strong here, Mercedes really does need to up its game this afternoon, for waiting in the wings is Red Bull, the Austrian outfit aware that the Hungaroring is one of those track on which it should shine.
Should one or both of the Bull qualify ahead of Hamilton, the Briton will face a nightmare race this afternoon, for on a circuit that has never been overtaking friendly he will find it far harder to make up lost ground than he did in Germany last week.
Giving Red Bull even more impetus earlier, Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul suggested that the Red Bull team will have the benefit of an engine mode similar to that enjoyed by Mercedes and Ferrari.
The midfield fight is as gloriously manic as ever, and while Carlos Sainz was best of the rest this morning, the order seems to change with the wind, with Haas, Renault, Toro Rosso and Sauber all looking strong thus far.
To further spice things up, half-an-hour before the start of Q1, the heavens open up.
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 34 degrees.
Even as the rain falls, race control confirms that there is an 80% chance of rain.
Despite the rain, such is the heat the drivers should be able to get away with slicks quite early on.
The lights go green and Leclerc leads the Mercedes duo out on to the track, with Raikkonen right behind. All are on Inters. The Bulls stay ut until everyone else has gone out, Verstappen leaving it worryingly late.
Hamilton is warned of rain approaching T14.
"It's very dry in 6 and 7," says Raikkonen, "at least it looks dry."
As Verstappen finally leaves his garage, Bottas posts the first time of the afternoon (27.245).
Hamilton posts 26.847 and Raikkonen 25.988.
Hulkenberg goes third, ahead of Bottas, Leclerc, Ocon and Ericsson.
Hamilton complains that his tyres are overheating.
A 26.303 sees Vettel go second, the German listing the condition of the various corners, while calling on his team to have another set of Inters ready.
Ricciardo can only manage 11th (28.700), as Verstappen posts 27.304 to go sixth.
Sainz is first to pit, as Hamilton warns that his tyres are falling apart.
"More rain is coming soon," Vettel is told. "How soon," he replies. "Minutes," he is told.
Sainz heads out again, now sporting ultras, Hartley, Hulkenberg and Magnussen also.
As Ericsson pits for slicks, lightning rakes across the sky.
Vettel improves to 25.176, as attention switches to Sainz.
The Spaniard only manages a PB in S1, as does Magnussen. In S2 however he goes quickest, while Magnussen maintains his pace.
Sainz goes quickest with a 22.476, as Raikkonen switches to ultras, along with the rest.
As they all switch to ultras the thunder can be heard and the lightning seen, but no more rain.
Hulkenberg goes quickest and Ericsson second.
"I think it's started to rain again," warns Raikkonen.
Bottas goes quickest in S1 as Verstappen also looks quick.
Grosjean goes quickest as the times tumble.
A 19.828 sees Raikkonen go quickest, ahead of Bottas only for Hartley to split the pair.
Verstappen goes second and Hamilton third as Sainz improves to 19.642 to go top.
Vettel improves from nineteenth to third with a 19.878.
Currently 20th, Ricciardo is on the softs.
Verstappen posts 18.673 to go second to Raikkonen, as Hulkenberg improves to fifth.
Ricciardo can only manage 17th (22.775).
As the clock counts down, Magnussen, Leclerc, Ricciardo, Perez and Sirotkin comprise the drop zone.
Perez improves to 13th as Hartley goes fifth.
Ricciardo improves to twelfth.
The thunder and lightning continue but still no sign of the rain.
Vettel goes quickest with a 17.670 but moments later Raikkonen demotes him with a 17.526.
Fastest in the first two sectors, Hamilton goes quickest with a 17.419.
"Is it going to rain or not," asks Vettel. "No more rain," he is told.
Alonso goes sixth with an 18.208 as Ricciardo finally finds some pace. The Australian posts PBs in all three sectors to go 13th (18.811).
Leclerc improves to 14th just as the chequered flag is waved.
Vettel goes quickest (16.666), as Sirotkin fails to improve.
"You should've told me I was running out of time," says Hamilton.
Magnussen goes 10th while Verstappen goes second, ahead of Bottas and Hamilton.
Quickest is Vettel, ahead of Verstappen, Bottas, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Sainz, Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Alonso and Magnussen.
We lose Vandoorne, Leclerc, Ocon, Perez and Sirotkin.
Check out our Saturday gallery from the Hungaroring, here.
Ahead of Q2, both Saubers are waiting patiently at the end of the pitlane.
On ultras, Grosjean is told that the team will watch conditions before deciding at the end of the lap whether to switch from slicks.
Vettel is behind the Haas pair and is on Inters.
"We think there is rain, maybe at the last sector," Hamilton is told.
As the field completes its first lap, it is clear Vettel made the right decision. Consequently, at the end of the lap they all pit and follow the German's example by switching to Inters.
He crosses the line at 28.636 and as he does so the rain is clearly falling.
Replay shows Verstappen almost tripping up over a Toro Rosso.
"We expect these conditions to worsen," Verstappen is told.
As he posts the second time of Q2, Magnussen goes very, very wide in the final corner.
As Stroll goes wide, Stroll is off track at T9 and loses his front wing in an encounter with the barriers.
Sainz goes second, ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton, Gasly, Bottas, Hartley and Raikkonen.
"Keep pushing," Hamilton is told.
The rain is falling hard now as Vettel pits, his job seemingly done.
Magnussen also pits, but being ninth his place is far from safe.
Raikkonen spins at T6.
Ricciardo can only manage 13th (36.921), and with 6:40 remaining, along with Alonso, Hulkenberg, Ericsson and Stroll he comprises the drop zone.
Magnussen and Ericsson make the switch to full wets. The Dane completes one lap before deciding full wets were not the right way to go.
All eyes on Ericsson who has the track to himself.
Despite the fact that Ericsson's times are not improving, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg head out on full wets.
"New Inters or wets?" Alonso is asked. "I think we should go to the garage," he dryly replies. "Put whatever tyre you want." The Spaniard subsequently pits for wets.
Currently tenth, Grosjean is told that it will continue raining with no improvements in this session.
Ricciardo improves his time to go 12th, but fails to make the cut, as do Ericsson, Stroll, Hulkenberg and Alonso.
Quickest is Vettel, ahead of Sainz, Verstappen, Hamilton, Gasly, Bottas, Hartley, Raikkonen, Magnussen and Grosjean.
Hartley heads the queue at the end of the pitlane, ahead of Verstappen and Bottas. All are on wets.
"Slightly worse for the next five minutes," Hartley is warned.
Verstappen passes the Toro Rosso in order to have clear track - and vision - ahead.
"It's extremely tight to do a three and a two," Bottas is advised.
Verstappen is lucky not to go off at T12, however, he is able to continue and posts a 38.923, however, this is soon beaten by Bottas and then Hamilton (37.564).
Vettel can only manage fifth (39.502) while Raikkonen goes third with a 37.769.
Next time around Verstappen fails ti improve, while Hamilton consolidates his top spot with a 36.648.
A 37.733 sees Vettel go third while Gasly posts 38.012 to go fifth.
Raikkonen improves to second with while Hamilton consolidates his top spot with a 36.648.
A 37.733 sees Vettel go third while Gasly posts 38.012 to go fifth.
Raikkonen improves to second with 7.362.
Bottas and Hamilton both look set to improve further, the Mercedes pair finding grip where nobody else can.
Bottas goes second with a 37.059.
Gasly remains fifth, while the Haas duo remain ninth and tenth.
A 36.186 sees Raikkonen take provisional pole, 0.462s up on Hamilton.
Sainz goes fifth (37.966), thereby demoting Gasly.
Next time around Sainz improves to third with a 36.743.
With 1:50 remaining all ten are back on track, all sporting new wets.
Vettel improves to fourth, but still has time for one more lap.
Bottas goes quickest in S1 while Vettel posts a PB.
Now Hamilton goes quickest in S1, as Raikkonen begins his final lap.
Vettel goes second (36.210), but moments later Bottas bangs in a 35.918 and Hamilton a 35.658, as Mercedes makes it an all silver front row.
"Nice one mate, beautiful lap," Pete Bonnington tells Hamilton.
Hamilton takes pole ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen, Vettel, Sainz, Gasly, Verstappen, Hartley, Magnussen and Grosjean.
Alonso will start eleventh, ahead of Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Ericsson, Stroll, Vandoorne, Leclerc, Ocon, Perez and Sirotkin.
Mindful of Jacques Villeneuve's comments about Hamilton earlier this week, while we doubt whether the Briton could actually part the Red Sea, one has to admit that this session has worked out perfectly for him, as nobody really expected him to be starting from pole tomorrow, far less part of a Mercedes lock-out.
On the other hand, who would have predicted the Red Bull pair starting 7th and 12th?
"It's so tricky out there," Hamilton tells Paul di Resta at the end of the session. "At the beginning it was dry for part of the lap, and at the end it was getting more and more wet, so it was really difficult to arrive in a corner and know how much grip you're going to have. So that's massively challenging.
"Then, when it got extreme, you're just looking for a clean line, and tip-toeing around all the cars, it's a bit like ballet, not that I've done ballet, you're feeling the movement of the car. It's about give and take, each time you go around, each corner... I was up, I was down, it was an emotional rollercoaster.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, he says. "We're in a great position, so we're going to work as a team and keep the red guys behind us."
Told it looked as though he had pole in the bag, Bottas smiles and says: "Me too.
"It was really crucial," he adds, "we only had one go with the new set of tyres and he was quicker on that lap.
"Obviously, he was later and all the time the track was drying up," he adds. "But as a team, 1-2, it could have been worse today."
Asked about tomorrow, he adds: "We are free to fight, so I'm looking forward to it."
"Obviously, it's not ideal," says Raikkonen, who is clearly the fan favourite. "The car was driveable and enjoyable, I was a bit unlucky with the last lap when we changed to new tyres, there was no grip and I got behind a Haas and with the spray... it was impossible to see and improve.
"Tomorrow is another day," he adds, having clearly skipped The Ten Commandments for Gone With The Wind, "we'll keep trying."
With perfect conditions forecast for tomorrow, we could be in for a thriller.
Check out our Saturday gallery from the Hungaroring, here.