Lewis Hamilton has earned his first pole position since 2021 by qualifying fastest for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Despite four podiums during the 2023 campaign, Hamilton has endured a frustrating season in his Mercedes, but the legendary British driver starred in Q3 on Saturday.
After Championship leader Max Verstappen failed to improve on his first flying lap of the session, Hamilton took full advantage by stealing pole by just 0.003 seconds.
In doing so, the seven-time world champion has secured his first pole since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on a track where he has finished in the top two on the last five occasions.
Max: "We were struggling the whole weekend to find a good balance. We're still second, but we should be ahead with the car we have normally" #HungarianGP #F1 @redbullracing @Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/vxgBr01BhP
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22, 2023
British compatriot Lando Norris completes the top three ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri on another impressive afternoon for the improving McLaren.
Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu was a sensational fifth, by far his best effort of the campaign, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc qualifying in sixth spot.
Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg are placed between seventh and 10th position respectively.
Carlos Sainz Jr could only qualify in 11th in the second Ferrari, while George Russell endured a disastrous qualifying with 18th spot coming from a mix-up in communication with his Mercedes team at the back end of Q1.
