Lewis Hamilton emerges supreme in wet conditions at Hungarian Grand Prix

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during the Hungarian GP qualifying on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton proved more sure-footed than his rivals in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, as he danced his Mercedes to a masterful pole position around a soaking wet Hungaroring. Hamilton, 33, who pulled out a "miracle" drive to win in similarly tricky conditions a week ago in Hockenheim, set a time of one minute, 35.658 seconds, 0.260 seconds quicker than Valtteri Bottas who completed a front-row lockout for Mercedes.

Ferrari had staked a strong claim to pole position after Sebastian Vettel set the pace on a dry track in the final practice session in the build-up to qualifying and also topped the timesheets in the opening two phases of qualifying. But, in the end, they could only manage third and fourth with the German, who lost the championship lead after crashing out from the lead last Sunday in his home race, beaten by teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

"That was a beautiful lap. Epic!" Hamilton's race engineer, sounding relieved and ecstatic, said to him on the radio as the Briton emerged from the spray and crossed the line. "Are we good?" asked Hamilton, not sure if he had done enough. "We couldn't have expected this…," he later added. "The Ferraris were quicker all weekend, but the heavens opened and it was fair game!"

Yesterday's pole was the 77th of Hamilton's career and fifth of the season. With Vettel only fourth, it gives him a great chance of extending his 17-point lead over the German, heading into Formula One's annual month-long summer break. The Hungaroring with its tight and twisty layout has traditionally been one of Mercedes' weaker circuits.

Vettel led a Ferrari one-two here last year. But after qualifying his hopes of scoring a repeat now appear to rest on making a better start than Hamilton and Bottas. A dry track could also swing the advantage back in his favour, although the circuit is known to be notoriously difficult to overtake on.

Red Bull were also left pondering what might have been. The former champions, who won in Hungary with Daniel Ricciardo in 2014 at the height of Mercedes' dominance, had been eyeing this race as an opportunity to chalk up a fourth win of the season.

But Ricciardo, who even took an engine penalty in Hockenheim so his chances of a possible win wouldn't be scuppered by having to take one in Hungary, didn't even make through to the final phase of qualifying. He will start 12th after being caught out by the rain which intensified and prevented him setting a time fast enough to make it through to the top-ten. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, could only manage seventh.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz starred for Renault by going fifth-fastest. Pierre Gasly also took advantage of the conditions, which levelled the playing field, to go sixth for Honda-powered Toro Rosso. Teammate Brendon Hartley put in an equally impressive performance to go eighth ahead of the Haas pair of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean who completed the top-ten. Force India, who it was confirmed have entered administration, endured a torrid session. Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez were only 18th and 19th, respectively, out of 20 runners.

Force India goes into administration
The Force India Formula One team went into administration on Friday in London following a High Court hearing brought by a winding-up order. Deputy team principal Bob Fernley confirmed the action, telling reporters that an "administrator was appointed by the court for Force India". There was no further immediate comment from the team, which, on Friday, had said it hoped to resolve its critical cash-flow difficulties with the help of new investment, while under administration.

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