Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel roared back to form with pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday after his Red Bull mechanics worked through the night to get his car up to speed.
The German had failed to win the last two races but made sure Red Bull snapped up their 11th pole in 11 races this season, and 12th in a row, with his eighth of the campaign and 23rd of his career. Australian teammate Mark Webber, second in the championship but a massive 77 points behind Vettel, qualified down in sixth place.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who won in Germany last Sunday when Red Bull’s dominance from the first half of the season continued to ebb away, was quickest early on in the final session but had to settle for second on the grid after Vettel’s flying last lap. “Still I think it is a great achieivement for us ,” said the Briton, twice a winner at the Hungaroring.
Hamilton’s teammate Jenson Button was third on the grid for his 200th grand prix but double world champion Fernando Alonso could only manage fifth for Ferrari behind team mate Felipe Massa. Alonso, who was 30 on Friday, appeared to be heading for pole on his final lap but again lost time in the final sector as he feared. It was the first time this year that Massa had outqualified the Spaniard.
{{/usCountry}}Hamilton’s teammate Jenson Button was third on the grid for his 200th grand prix but double world champion Fernando Alonso could only manage fifth for Ferrari behind team mate Felipe Massa. Alonso, who was 30 on Friday, appeared to be heading for pole on his final lap but again lost time in the final sector as he feared. It was the first time this year that Massa had outqualified the Spaniard.
{{/usCountry}}Michael Schumacher was just ahead of the Mexican rookie as Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg again outqualified his German compatriot by taking seventh on the grid.