The weekend of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, in the heart of the city of Budapest, started with an unexpected protagonist: Sebastian Vettel. The German driver, four times world champion, Red Bull idol, former Ferrari driver and currently at Aston Martin, announced that he will end his career at the end of the season and opened the door to a wave of emotional tributes and farewells.
“I am here to announce my retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season. I should probably start with a long list of thanks, but I feel it is now more important to explain the reasons for my decision. I love this sport. It has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember. But just as there is life on the slopes, there is also life off the slopes. Being a pilot was never my only identity. I strongly believe in identity because of who we are or how we treat others and not what we do,” Vettel said in a black-and-white video posted on social media.
Four World Championships, 53 victories, 122 podiums, a heartfelt farewell: Vettel will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the year
It was thus, in the midst of an obviously remarkable weekend for Sebastian Vettel in particular and for Formula 1 in general, that qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix took place. Ferrari dominated the first two free practice sessions, with Charles Leclerc fastest ahead of Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton. but the third free practice brought a surprise: Williams’ Nicholas Latifi set the fastest time. In a last session on Friday marked by heavy rain, Vettel ended up raising a red flag by finishing in the barriers.
This Saturday, and with a forecast of heavy rain looming, the postponement of qualifying for this Sunday morning was on the table -even so, the weather conditions did not end up being extreme, which allowed the starting grid to remain fixed on the eve of the race. And then, the natural order of events was restored: Latifi, who had been the fastest in the third free practice, was the one with the worst time, being eliminated in Q1 along with Tsunoda, Albon, Vettel and Gasly. Later, the Mercedes led, with Hamilton ahead of Russell.
Sun ⚔️ Rain#Hungarian GP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Sxpfl9mR4r
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 30, 2022
In Q2 Schumacher, Stroll, Magnussen, Zhou and Pérez fell, with Verstappen setting the fastest time ahead of Leclerc and Alonso being the big surprise, taking advantage of a great second sector that assured him third position. Finally, in the decisive Q3 and without one of the Red Bulls, George Russell ended up winning the first pole position of the race in an extraordinary way, on the last lap and in a section in which Ferrari almost celebrated the victory of Carlos Sainz.
The Spaniard will start from second position, followed by Leclerc and Norris, Lewis Hamilton fared no better than seventh and Verstappen dropped to tenth, very affected by mechanical problems in the final stretch of the session. Thus, in Hungary, Mercedes managed to seal not only a historic moment for Russell, but also the first pole position of the season who did not fall in love with Ferrari or Red Bull.
IT’S POLE FOR GEORGE RUSSELL!!!
What a lap for the Briton, the first pole of his career! #Hungarian GP #F1 pic.twitter.com/K08w2LhLzt
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 30, 2022
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION
take a bow, @GeorgeRussell63 ????????????#Hungarian GP #F1 pic.twitter.com/SUmvvRw99c
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 30, 2022
Source: Observadora
