After a drought that at times must have seemed endless, finally blessed relief and a moment to savour for Lewis Hamilton, one that harked back to the very beginning of his career.
Taking pole for the Hungarian Grand Prix was something special for the Briton, his beaming grin positively illuminating the Hungaroring where the fans, given a salutary reminder of what a great driver he is, responded with roars of approval.
Hamilton has not taken a pole since Saudi Arabia in 2021, which was also the last time he won a race. The interim has been a barren stretch, the longest of his career since he took his first pole at Montreal in 2007. During which time he has been fighting recalcitrant cars and watching Max Verstappen and Red Bull romp away with the title.
Little wonder, then, that the 38-year-old released his emotions with a guttural roar from the cockpit to race engineer Peter “Bono” Bonnington after crossing the line.
“I’ve lost my voice from shouting so much, it’s amazing, that feeling,” Hamilton said. “We’ve really worked so hard, pushing so hard over this time to get a pole it feels like the first time.
“When I heard Bono come on the radio I had a huge grin on my face, what an uplifting feeling for everyone in the team.”
After a season of struggle in the Mercedes, Hamilton delivered with an extraordinary lap to beat the Red Bull of Verstappen into second place by just three-thousandths of a second.
The circuit demands precision, with its tight, winding succession of slow and medium-speed corners that come thick and fast. Any minor transgression in one carries through the following turns and is irreparable. Hamilton threaded the needle with the sort of exquisite accuracy that has defined some of the best laps of his career.
Nor was he alone in treating Budapest to a bravura performance, with Lando Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, taking an excellent third and fourth for McLaren, whose performance confirmed they are also resurgent.
But it was Hamilton who outshone the blazing sun. He has been circumspect about his chances this weekend but when it mattered the car, which underwent a major design philosophy change at Monaco, was finally a ride in which he had real confidence. He was almost affectionate toward it, a sentiment he has rarely expressed for the past two seasons.
“Today was a fun day,” he said. “When you can throw it into the corners and you know it will just about stick with you, it was definitely fun.”
Verstappen complained he had been unable to find the balance for his car, struggling with understeer and oversteer, but Hamilton would have been tough to beat regardless. His final hot lap was immense, despite losing a spot of time in the final corner as he was caught in a cross wind that gave the car a nasty snap. There was very much a sense of vindication for both driver and team having stuck to their task.
“I have always had belief that some day if we apply ourselves in the right way we would get there,” he said. “It was just a question of how long that would be.”
It was doubtless longer than he had expected, just as has been the wait for a win. Britain has had three prime ministers and two monarchs since Hamilton last took to the top step but this is by far his best chance. Passing can be difficult on the Hungaroring and Mercedes have demonstrated strong race pace – if he can hold the lead an almighty tussle with Verstappen may be on the cards.
Certainly there was no paucity of ambition and desire from the veteran who was as fired up as ever he has been. “Just imagine,” he said, when asked if he was eager to win. “I am as keen as I was when I won my first grand prix in 2007 in Montreal.”
In what was an enthralling session, Guanyu Zhou claimed fifth for Alfa Romeo, the Chinese driver’s best result.
Charles Leclerc was sixth for Ferrari, Valtteri Bottas seventh for Alfa Romeo, Fernando Alonso eighth for Aston Martin, Sergio Pérez ninth for Red Bull and Nico Hülkenberg 10th for Haas.
There was disappointment for Mercedes’ George Russell, who went out in 18th caught in traffic on his final hot lap.
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Daniel Ricciardo, in his first competitive session on his return to F1, put in a great run in a recalcitrant AlphaTauri to finish in 13th, out-qualifying his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, at the first attempt, with the Japanese driver finishing in 17th.
Carlos Sainz was 11th for Ferrari, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly in 12th and 15th for Alpine, with Lance Stroll 14th for Aston Martin.
Alex Albon was 16th and Logan Sargeant 20th for Williams and Kevin Magnussen in 19th for Haas.
