Lewis Hamilton is on pole position at the Hungaroring this afternoon for what promises to be a dramatic 11th round of the 2023 Formula 1 season. The seven-time world champion leads the grid for the first time in some 20 months after pipping Max Verstappen by just 0.003 seconds in the final lap of a thrilling qualifying session in Hungary on Saturday, providing a massive boost for Mercedes.
But Hamilton – a record eight-time winner of this race – no doubt faces a daunting task to keep the Red Bull in his rearview mirrors today as the dominant Verstappen searches for a seventh consecutive F1 victory and his ninth of the campaign already, having extended his latest formidable title lead to 99 points and won six in a row for the first time in his career at the British Grand Prix a fortnight ago.
McLaren look set for another impressive points haul after locking out the second row with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Zhou Guanyu claimed a superb P5 for Alfa Romeo, ahead of Charles Leclerc, team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Fernando Alonso. Daniel Ricciardo is 13th as he returns to race for AlphaTauri. Follow what promises to be a dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix live below!
Live updates
Max Verstappen: Red Bull ‘all over the shop’ after upgrades
Red Bull’s significant upgrade package has flattered to deceive somewhat so far this weekend, by their usual lofty standards anyway.
After his rare qualifying disappointment yesterday, a frustrated Max Verstappen described the setup as wrong after a day when he said things had been “all over the place”.
Does that give Lewis Hamilton a realistic shot at victory this afternoon?
“We’re still second, but I think we should be ahead with the car we have normally, but so far this weekend I think we haven’t been on it,” Verstappen said.
“I think the update works, but I think we just really didn’t put everything together setup wise because I just think today everything has just been all over the shop and not exactly where we wanted to be.”
Hungarian Grand Prix to stay on F1 calendar through 2032
The Hungarian Grand Prix has been a regular feature of the Formula 1 race calendar since 1986, and isn’t going away any time soon.
A five-year extension was announced ahead of the weekend that will see the race remain in F1 until at least 2032, with renovations to the Hungaroring set to be completed in 2026.
“To see the commitment from the promoter in Hungary to develop the facilities and further enhance the experience for fans is another important step and something we want to see all our events doing,” said F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali.
Hungaroring president Zsolt Gyulay added: “Given the astonishing rise in F1’s global popularity, which now sees more venues than ever before competing to join the calendar, today’s signing marks a hugely significant achievement for us.”
Can Hamilton really hold off Max Verstappen?
Lewis Hamilton is the record holder for the most ever Hungarian Grand Prix wins, with twice as many victories (eight) at the Hungaroring as his closest rival, the great Michael Schumacher.
It was the scene of his first-ever triumph with Mercedes in 2013, but can he realistically expect to hold off the juggernaut that is Max Verstappen and his RB19?
Verstappen memorably won in Hungary for the first time last year, producing a superb drive from 10th on the grid to claim top spot despite a spin that briefly cost him the lead.
“We tend to have decent race pace,” Hamilton said after qualifying yesterday. “Max’s race pace yesterday in practice was quite extraordinary. They were quicker than us.
“But if there is a way to hold position then maybe there is a fighting chance for us. I am as keen as I am to win tomorrow as I did for my first win in Montreal in 2007.”
Lewis Hamilton: 104th career pole feels like my first
Lewis Hamilton understandably could not hide his delight after sealing his first pole position for some 595 days following that incredible last-gasp qualifying lap on Saturday.
It’s been a hell of a long wait by his usual lofty standards for career pole No104, with the seven-time world champion beaming that it felt like the first time.
“I forgot what it feels like to sit in this spot. He (Max Verstappen) has been hogging it for a while,” Hamilton said.
“I don’t think I breathed for the whole lap, I held my breath. I was so out of breath at the end. It is an extraordinary feeling.
“I have not been here for such a long time. Even with the success I have had before, and this is my 104th pole, it feels like the first. It is hard to explain how special it feels.”
Weather forecast
It is set to be a dry race on Sunday, with clear skies at the Hungaroring in Mogyorod and temperatures up at 30ºC throughout the afternoon.
Starting grid in full
1) Lewis Hamilton
2) Max Verstappen
3) Lando Norris
4) Oscar Piastri
5) Zhou Gunayu
6) Charles Leclerc
7) Valtteri Bottas
8) Fernando Alonso
9) Sergio Perez
10) Nico Hulkenberg
11) Carlos Sainz
12) Esteban Ocon
13) Daniel Ricciardo
14) Lance Stroll
15) Pierre Gasly
16) Alex Albon
17) Yuki Tsunoda
18) George Russel
19) Kevin Magnussen
20) Logan Sargeant
Where to watch the Hungarian Grand Prix
TV channel: In the UK, the Hungarian Grand Prix is being broadcast live today on Sky Sports F1, with coverage of Grand Prix Sunday beginning at 12:30pm BST. Coverage of the race itself gets underway at 1:55pm, ahead of a 2pm start.
Free-to-air highlights are on Channel 4 from 6:30pm.
Live stream: Coverage of the race is also available to subscribers online via the Sky Go app.
Welcome to F1 Hungarian Grand Prix LIVE coverage!
Hello and welcome to the Evening Standard’s live coverage of the 2023 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix.
We should have an exciting race on our hands at the famous Hungaroring today, with Lewis Hamilton having stunned Max Verstappen with a blistering last-gasp lap in qualifying yesterday to pip the dominant world champion to pole position by just 0.003 seconds.
It was a significant development for Mercedes and Hamilton, with the seven-time title winner having not sealed top spot on the grid since all the way back in December 2021 in Saudi Arabia.
Keeping Verstappen at bay will be no easy feat however as he chases a seventh consecutive race win, while the resurgent McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will also look to keep themselves in the podium mix once again.
Today’s race in Hungary begins at 2pm BST, so stay tuned for build-up and live updates from Standard Sport!
