• Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, was edged out.
• By Mercedes’ George Russell in the final laps of qualifying on Saturday.
• For the Hungarian Grand Prix. Russell outran both Ferraris.

George Russell  beat Carlos Sainz in the leading Ferrari by 0.044 seconds with a best lap time of one minute and 17.377 seconds.

For Ferrari, Charles Leclerc finished third, one-tenth back.

Prior to the two Alpines of two-time champion Fernando Alonso and last year’s winner Esteban Ocon, who turned 41 on Friday, Lando Norris took fourth for McLaren.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton qualified ahead of his former teammate Valtteri Bottas of Alfa Romeo in eighth place after his Mercedes’ Drag Reduction System (DRS) failed on his final flying lap.

After experiencing power failure issues and failing to set a competitive lap time, Red Bull’s series leader and world champion Verstappen finished 10th and McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo placed ninth.

Mercedes’ first pole position since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last season was achieved by Russell in his 73rd Grand Prix, and it was a sign that the team may have finally prevailed in dealing with the new “ground effect” aerodynamic restrictions this season.

“Incredible! Amazing. You succeeded, “Russell yelled over his team radio. “Gorgeous you. Boys, no points for Saturday. We should go tomorrow.” He declared he was happy to be back in the pitlane as the large crowd applauded him heartily “Even though yesterday was our worst Friday of the year, people were “over the moon” and “buzzing.” It’s major. a wonderful sensation.” Sainz congratulated him right away. Leclerc, who was third on the grid, took solace in the knowledge that Verstappen would start 11th. “George must have produced a fairly strong lap,” he commented.

Russell continued: “Everyone put in a lot of effort last night. We were unsure about where to turn. It was an awesome feeling as I crossed the line and saw P1 on the television.” After a final practise session marred by rain earlier in the day, qualifying got underway in dry, partly sunny circumstances. To take advantage of the better weather, every driver emerged quickly on soft tyres.

Verstappen set the pace in a tense battle with the two Ferraris after the early fastest laps from Magnussen, Stroll, and Hamilton before Hamilton and Russell took over for Mercedes, taking advantage of milder temperatures after earlier problems.

On the other end of the timings, Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin, Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri, and Nicholas Latifi of Williams, who had been fastest on a drying course in final practise, were all eliminated in P20.

Vettel wrecked in the dying moments of the final practise. He helped his technicians fix the car before Q1, but it wasn’t successful, and he started out in P18.

Not what I desired, he declared. “Everyone’s response to his retirement plans has been incredibly lovely, but my focus is on qualifying and our day wasn’t great. I’m unable to smile.” Along with Alex Albon in the second Williams, Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri also exited in the sixteenth position.

Despite a massive, ominous cloud in the sky, the track was dry for Q2. Norris started out on top for McLaren, beating off the quick Ferraris, before Verstappen took the lead with a lap that took just 1 minute, 18 seconds, and held it.

Russell and Hamilton were on the verge of missing the top 10 after their first run due to Alpine and Alfa Romeo cars’ keen improvements, but the multiple champion advanced to third on his second.

Perez struggled once more in the second Red Bull, had a lap overturned but restored, and then finished P11, claiming Magnussen had impeded him.

Magnussen, his Haas teammate Mick Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, and the Mexican were all forced to retire alongside them.

Verstappen and Leclerc were only 0.06 seconds apart at the top, setting up the possibility of an exciting pole-position battle.

On the initial runs, though, when Leclerc was third and Verstappen was back in seventh place and before the dramatic conclusion, Sainz set the fastest, ahead of Russell.

Verstappen, on his out-lap, stated, “I have no power.”

His Red Bull crew responded, “Ok, stand by.” After more discussion, the driver exclaimed, “Nothing works,” as Leclerc and then Sainz set the fastest times ahead of Russell’s last-minute intervention.

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