Hungarian Grand Prix: Nico Rosberg trumps Lewis Hamilton for pole position in Hungary chaos

World championship leader Nico Rosberg limbered up for qualifying by setting the fastest time for Mercedes in Saturday’s final practice session for the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix.

AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic

BUDAPEST // Nico Rosberg rode his luck to grab pole position for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in a prolonged qualifying session punctuated by rainstorms and red flags.

The championship-leading 31-year-old German produced a fastest lap of one minute and 19.965 seconds at the end of a session stretched to nearly two hours by heavy rain and crashes in the hazardous conditions on the twisting Hungaroring circuit on Saturday.

Defending three-time champion Hamilton, who is just one point behind Rosberg after 10 of this year’s 21 races, was 0.143 seconds behind his rival as the pair secured their team’s sixth front-row lockout of the season.

“It was a really challenging qualifying with the changing conditions all the time,” Rosberg said. “I’ve been feeling really good out there the whole weekend in all conditions. I’m looking forward to the race and the great opportunity tomorrow.”

Hamilton looked to be on course to take pole when on an improved best lap he came across Spaniard Fernando Alonso’s McLaren spinning off the track in front of him.

The Briton had to take evasive action, which cost him time, before Rosberg came round and was able to continue without easing off.

“It was unfortunate with Fernando, but these things happen,” said Hamilton, who has been gnawing away at Rosberg’s lead in the standings and is chasing a third win in succession.

“I did the best I could do and it’s a long race tomorrow so I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”

The two Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo, who was also affected by Alonso’s spin, and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen were third and fourth ahead of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.

Vettel’s teammate Kimi Raikkonen was unable to progress from Q2 in the treacherous conditions.

Spaniards Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso and Alonso were sixth and seventh ahead of Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren, Nico Hulkenberg of Force India and Valtteri Bottas of Williams, who was 10th fastest.

Graham Caygill: Five takeaways from Hungarian GP qualifying

Rosberg’s success brought him his 26th career pole position and his 50th front-row start for a race he has never won.

Heavy rain delayed the start of Q1 by 20 minutes, flooding many parts of the paddock, including television commentary booths.

“It’s pretty hairy out there, there’s a lot of spray and standing water,” Williams deputy team chief Claire Williams said. “The most important thing is the safety of our drivers.”

When it did finally get going, there were four red flags in Q1 alone, as the drivers struggled badly.

One of the victims was Swede Marcus Ericsson in his Sauber, slamming into advertising boards in front of a tyre barrier at Turn Ten, and bring another red flag with nine minutes remaining.

Then his teammate Felipe Nasr crashed. He was unhurt, but like Ericsson, his day was over.

Another red flag, the fourth, with five minutes to go ensured a thrilling finale to Q1.

3rd and Final Free Practice Session from the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring on Saturday

1. Nico Rosberg (Germany), Mercedes, 1:20.261

2. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull-TAG Heuer, 1:20.263

3. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull-TAG Heuer, 1:20.726

4. Lewis Hamilton (Britain), Mercedes, 1:20.769

5. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland), Ferrari, 1:20.859

6. Sebastian Vettel (Germany), Ferrari, 1:21.185

7. Fernando Alonso (Spain), McLaren, 1:21.584

8. Valtteri Bottas (Finland), Williams-Mercedes, 1:21.649

9. Sergio Perez (Mexico), Force India-Mercedes 1:21.672

10. Jolyon Palmer (Britain), Renault, 1:21.935

11. Felipe Massa (Brazil), Williams-Mercedes, 1:21.975

12. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark), Renault, 1:21.989

13. Jenson Button (Britain), McLaren, 1:22.009

14. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico), Haas-Ferrari,, 1:22.142

15. Romain Grosjean (France), Haas-Ferrari,, 1:22.284

16. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain), Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:22.402

17. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany), Force India-Mercedes 1:22.427

18. Daniil Kvyat (Russia), Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:22.541

19. Felipe Nasr (Brazil),, Sauber-Ferrari, 1:22.816

20. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden), Sauber-Ferrari, 1:23.219

21. Pascal Wehrlein (Germany), Manor-Mercedes, 1:23.311

22. Rio Haryanto (Indonesia), Manor-Mercedes, 1:23.513

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