Hamilton booed after taking Hungarian GP pole

Lewis Hamilton beat Valtteri Bottas to a Mercedes one-two ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

The seven-time champion beat Bottas by 0.315 seconds with a time set on their first runs as neither Mercedes driver improved on their final laps.

Verstappen did improve on his final run but ended up 0.106secs behind Bottas.

And Verstappen will start the race on the soft tyre, whereas Mercedes have gone for the favoured medium compound.

Hamilton was booed by the large contingent of Dutch fans in the grandstands as he did his interview after the session.

“I have never felt so great with the booing,” Hamilton said. “If anything it just fuels me, so I don’t really mind it.

“It was an amazing qualifying lap that last one. Amazing team work from everyone this weekend, trying to push the car forward developing constantly. It has been amazing to see everyone rallying together.

“The soft tyre is worth something like five metres off the line going into Turn One. It’s surprising seeing them on the soft. Great having a front row lock-out for our team, first time for a long time.”

Verstappen, who starts the race eight points ahead of Hamilton in the championship, said: “The whole weekend we have been a bit behind and it showed again in qualifying. Not what we wanted but we are still there in third and will see what we can do.”

Bottas attacks booing fans

Bottas, whose second place on the grid gives Mercedes a major tactical advantage over Red Bull for the race, condemned the fans who booed Hamilton.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” the Finn said.

“We are here as athletes to do the best we can in the sport we love. Lewis did an amazing lap at the end and people should question themselves about this behaviour. It’s not right and we don’t want to hear those things.”

Hamilton said: “People have a right. It’s sport. People act wild when it’s sport and competition. I don’t take it to heart. I must be doing something right to be up front.”

Verstappen added: “It’s not correct, of course, but as drivers we shouldn’t be disturbed by these sorts of things. It is not nice but it shouldn’t influence any of us.” (BBC Sport)