Formula One: Hamilton on pole in Hungary

Lewis Hamilton confirmed that he and McLaren have recovered their form when he swept to a dominant pole position in yesterday’s closely fought qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix today. Driving with supreme speed and consistency, the 27-year-old Briton clocked a best time of one minute and 20.953 seconds to top the times ahead of nearest rival Frenchman Romain Grosjean in a Lotus. Grosjean secured his front row starting position with a fast lap in the final seconds of a tight session to move ahead of third-placed defending drivers champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and Hamilton’s teammate and compatriot Jenson Button. Finn Kimi Raikkonen was fifth in the second Lotus ahead of championship leader Fernando Alonso of Spain and his Ferrari teammate Brazilian Felipe Massa. For Hamilton, it was a third pole of the year and the 22nd of his career.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2012.