The F1 circus tent is currently pitched just outside of Budapest for the Hungaroring Grand Prix, or the FORMULA 1 ENI MAGYAR NAGYDIJ 2010, to give it’s official title. Unsurprisingly the Red Bull’s of Sebastien Vettel and Mark Webber continue to dominate, with Vettel putting in a scorching Q3 lap to claim pole position, his seventh of the season. He was over half a second quicker than his Australian team mate and a good 1.2 seconds faster than third-placed Fernando “this is ridiculous” Alonso in the Ferrari. Full results when you click “Read more” below. There may be a bonus video in this for you as well.
The pace of the Red Bulls is simply laughable. Which is exactly what Hamilton and Button are doing about it. Hamilton, who occupies fifth on the grid was quoted as saying: ”It was really my target to finish fifth. I know that the Red Bulls are impossible to beat. It’s a second in the middle sector and half a second in the final sector. For Jenson and me, we just look at the onboard footage and laugh. I don’t know what they’re doing, but it’s incredible. I pulled every inch out of the car. We’ve got to work hard but it’s a good position for us to start and we’re on the clean side. Finishing third or fourth would be spectacular.”
Goodness me Lewis, where’s that British pluck? It must be awfully demoralizing being anybody but Red Bull right now. How a Thai energy drink, marketed by an Austrian genius, ever came to dominate the top sporting code of world motorsport, we’ll never know. Old man Enzo must be choking on his ethereal Chianti.
Michael Schumacher managed 14th while his team mate Nico Rosberg is all the way up in sixth. What’s that Michael? Your car’s not fast enough? Uh, no one really cares any more mate. Sorry.
As usual, Gav and I will be recovering from Saturday evening’s usual festivities and watching the race in our now customary Motorsport Sundays. I might even persuade him into throwing a few words on the interweb after the race. By the way, there is some cool coverage here, here and here.
Qualifying results: Formula One Hungaroring Grand Prix, 31 July 2010
1. Vettel -- Red Bull -- good time
2. Webber -- Red Bull -- slightly worse
3. Alonso -- Ferrari -- over a second slower than Vettel
4. Massa -- Ferrari -- slower than Alonso
5. Hamilton -- McLaren -- slower, but laughing about it
6. Rosberg -- Mercedes GP -- significantly ahead of Schumacher
7. Petrov -- Renault -- nice work
8. Kubica -- Renault -- go on lad
9. De la Rosa -- BMW Sauber Ferrari -- any day now, Pedro
10. Hulkenberg -- Williams-Cosworth -- Stephen Hawkings will be pleased
11. Button -- McLaren -- probably not too worried
12. Barichello -- Williams-Cosworth -- just there for the chicks anyway
13. Sutil -- Force India -- no comment
14. Schumacher -- Mercedes GP -- oh dear
15. Buemi -- Torro Rosso -- best team name ever
16. Liuzzi -- Force India -- probably doesn’t struggle with the pit ladies
17. Alguersuari -- Torro Rosso -- stop day dreaming kid
18. Glock -- Virgin -- probably isn’t one
19. Kovalainen -- Lotus -- uh…
20. Trulli -- Lotus -- is this guy still racing?
21. di Grassi -- Virgin -- same applies
22. Senna -- Hispania Racing -- he’s back
23. Kobayashi -- BMW Sauber Ferrari -- sent to the back for failing to weigh his car
24. Yamamoto -- Hispania -- somebody’s gotta be here.
Bonus video! It’s Gerhard Berger’s first lap of the 1991 Hungary Grand Prix, with Japanese commentary!
Ciro De Siena
Tags: formula 1, formula one, hamilton, hungary, hungoraring, laughing, pole, vettel
