Brundle hails Hamilton 'class' despite podium frustration

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle believes Lewis Hamilton's "class shone through" when taking his 104th pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The seven-time World Champion hadn't finished top of qualifying since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but clinched pole by just 0.003secs over runaway championship leader Max Verstappen with the very last lap at the Hungaroring.

Despite slipping back in the race, Brundle highlighted Hamilton's brilliance.

"Mercedes themselves had a curious if largely positive weekend," Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports F1 column.

"Lewis Hamilton secured an impressive and very popular pole position by hooking up a tidy lap under pressure on an improving track when Verstappen had failed to find time in a car which apparently was balanced more towards a race set-up, which could not be questioned a day later.

"Lewis wasn't fastest in any sector and wasn't even top three in one sector, but his class shone through."

Frustration

Hamilton lost the lead instantly as Verstappen took the ascendency into Turn 1 before romping to a 33-second win over McLaren's Lando Norris.

The Silver Arrow eventually wound up fourth and Brundle said: "In the race, the Mercedes had very variable stages of performance but on low fuel towards the end, both drivers were simply flying along.

"Hamilton almost relieved Sergio Perez of third place but ultimately would have the frustration of starting on pole but not being on the podium.

"[George] Russell would conversely steal sixth from the two Ferraris from his 18th slot on the grid."