Max Verstappen declared his first Formula 1 pole as “incredible” after beating Mercedes to P1 in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.
The Dutchman had yet to taste success on a Saturday, with Daniel Ricciardo claiming every Red Bull pole in the hybrid era, but that all changed as he proved too strong for the Silver Arrows around the Hungaroring on Saturday.
“It’s incredible,” he told Sky Sports’ Paul di Resta on the grid. “This one was still missing and you know it’s always going to be hard in qualifying but we managed to do it.
“The car was flying and it was incredible.”
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It’s a result that continues the momentum that Verstappen and Red Bull have built up with two wins in the past three races.
But while they were earned by coming through the field, now comes the challenge of trying to maintain the position he starts from.
“I’m very happy about today, but there’s still a race to do and that’s the most important bit,” the 21-year-old noted.
“Today was an important one and a great one for the team.”
A fascinating dynamic was playing out through the session as Ferrari dominated Sector 1 while Red Bull and Mercedes jostled for superiority around the rest of the lap.
The final margin between Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas was just 0.018s and team boss Christian Horner knew it every corner would be crucial.
“It’s been a good week so far,” he told Sky Sports. “For Max to get that pole, it’s fantastic for him, what a fantastic lap.
“I was hoping that his first lap in Q3 was going to be enough, and was hoping the circuit wouldn’t get quicker, but it was obvious that he needed to improve, Bottas was coming and getting closer and closer.
“It really came down to the last two or three corners for Max to nail the lap.”