Renault Sport Formula One Team enjoyed its best-ever qualifying performance thanks to a fantastic fifth from Carlos Sainz in challenging conditions at the Hungaroring. Sainz will start from the third row of the grid for tomorrow’s Hungarian Grand prix after setting his fastest Q3 lap on Pirelli’s Wet tyres as the rain bore down on the 4.38km circuit. Nico Hulkenberg fell short of the top ten after a fuel bowser issue meant he had insufficient fuel to make the most of the drier track at the start of Q2, meaning he will start from P13.
Carlos Sainz
“What an intense qualifying! I’m really happy with today’s performance and it is great when things come together! Only having the Mercedes and the Ferraris in front is a very good sign of how well we managed these conditions. We took a bit of a gamble staying out with the same set of tyres in Q3. This meant I was able to post a very strong time even if the tyre performance wasn’t there to improve with my final lap. I was really happy when I saw P3 on the board, and P5 at the end of the session is a pretty good feeling too. Points however are given out tomorrow. Tyre strategy and the start will be specially important but I’m confident we can have a strong race.”
Take a bow, Carlos Sainz ?
He displaces Bottas to set provisional third-best time#HungarianGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/7WH2nMmMA2
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2018
Nico Hulkenberg
“There was an issue with the fuel bowser which meant we didn’t have enough fuel in the car at the start of Q2, so we lost time when the track was at its best. Once it started raining hard it was pretty much game-over although we gave it a go with the Wet tyres, sadly to no avail. Timing is crucial in conditions like today so it’s a shame to have a small technical problem in the garage. It is hard to overtake here, but we have a strong car so I’m hopeful for a good race. A wet race would spice things up, but I’m approaching tomorrow open-minded; I want to make up places and score points.”
#Quali: ??✅ @Carlossainz55 P5 @HulkHulkenberg P13#RSspirit #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/VWtdK8khFi
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) July 28, 2018
