24 July,2016 01:15 PM IST | | Abhishek Takle
Mercedes driver Rosberg forces teammate and title-rival Lewis to abort his fastest lap in rain-delayed and interrupted qualifying session at Budapest
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg will start today's Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position after yellow flags forced team-mate and title-rival Lewis Hamilton to abort his fastest lap in a rain-delayed and interrupted qualifying session.
Nico Rosberg
Rosberg lapped the 4.3-kilometer long Hungaroring in one minute 19.965 seconds beating Hamilton, who nevertheless took second, by 0.143 seconds.
The Briton, ahead of Rosberg on the road as the Mercedes pair began their final runs, had to slow down significantly for yellow flags waved to warn him of a spinning Fernando Alonso. He had been on a quicker lap than than the German up to that point.
Brazilian Felipe Massa's car is removed from the circuit during the Hungary GP qualifying in Budapest on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
"I don't know how much Nico was up but I got the fastest first sector," Hamilton, looking relaxed, told reporters in the post-qualifying press conference.
"Bit unfortunate with Fernando but these things happen so I'm not really too disappointed."
Saturday's pole was the 26th of Rosberg's career and fourth of this season. It was also Mercedes' 46th in the last 49 races, with the German marque starting all but one race this year from the front.
Rosberg and Hamilton go into today's race separated by just one point.
Rosberg, who on Thursday signed a two-year extension to his contract keeping him at Mercedes until the end of 2018, currently leads. But Hamilton has won four of the last five races and is favourite to score another victory and seize the championship lead for the first time this season.
Daniel Ricciardo was third for Red Bull on a weekend when the former champions are hoping to challenge Mercedes for the win, with his team-mate Max Verstappen fourth.
The Australian won in Hungary two years ago and is optimistic of repeating that feat today.
Sebastian Vettel, winner in Hungary last year, was the sole Ferrari in the top-ten in fifth. Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was knocked out in the second phase of qualifying and starts 14th.
Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, who both took their first F1 wins in Hungary, were seventh and eighth, giving McLaren their best Saturday result since the Woking-based squad renewed its partnership with engine supplier Honda at the start of last year.
Force India's Nico Hulkenberg and Williams Valtteri Bottas rounded out the top-ten.
Qualifying started 20 minutes late after a torrential rain shower left the circuit drenched. It was interrupted by four more red flags with several drivers crashing out during the session's opening 18-minute phase.
