Fernando Alonso back on pole position in Hungary
Felipe Massa taken to hospital after high speed crash at Turn 4
Double world champion Fernando Alonso took the pole position for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix after a chaotic qualifying session ahead of Red Bull duo with Sebastian Vettel second, and Mark Webber third.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton ended up fourth (1:21.839) ahead of Williams’ Nico Rosberg (1:21.890), McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen (1:22.095), Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen (1:22.468), championship leader Jenson Button (1:22.511) and Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima (1:22.835).
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa couldn’t set a timed lap in Q3 as at the end of Q2 had a dramatic crash at Turn 4. Replay videos have shown debris hitting the Brazilian’s helmet while approaching the corner – possibly a suspension spring from Rubens Barrichello’s car – before going straight at high speed into the tyre protective barriers. Massa was then taken to the track’s medical centre before being flown to Budapest’s hospital by helicopter for further checks.
A Ferrari spokesman said that Massa was conscious but Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenciali added later on that the Brazilian won’t race on Sunday.
2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Qualifying Session results:
Pos. | No | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 1:21.313 | 1:20.826 | 1:21.569 | 20 |
2 | 15 | Sebastian Vettel | RBR-Renault | 1:21.178 | 1:20.604 | 1:21.607 | 20 |
3 | 14 | Mark Webber | RBR-Renault | 1:20.964 | 1:20.358 | 1:21.741 | 22 |
4 | 1 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:20.842 | 1:20.465 | 1:21.839 | 23 |
5 | 16 | Nico Rosberg | Williams-Toyota | 1:20.793 | 1:20.862 | 1:21.890 | 24 |
6 | 2 | Heikki Kovalainen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:21.659 | 1:20.807 | 1:22.095 | 29 |
7 | 4 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | 1:21.500 | 1:20.647 | 1:22.468 | 25 |
8 | 22 | Jenson Button | Brawn-Mercedes | 1:21.471 | 1:20.707 | 1:22.511 | 20 |
9 | 17 | Kazuki Nakajima | Williams-Toyota | 1:21.407 | 1:20.570 | 1:22.835 | 24 |
10 | 3 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:21.420 | 1:20.823 | 18 | |
11 | 12 | Sebastien Buemi | STR-Ferrari | 1:21.571 | 1:21.002 | 20 | |
12 | 9 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 1:21.416 | 1:21.082 | 18 | |
13 | 23 | Rubens Barrichello | Brawn-Mercedes | 1:21.558 | 1:21.222 | 17 | |
14 | 10 | Timo Glock | Toyota | 1:21.584 | 1:21.242 | 19 | |
15 | 8 | Nelsinho Piquet | Renault | 1:21.278 | 1:21.389 | 21 | |
16 | 6 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 1:21.738 | 8 | ||
17 | 21 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Force India-Mercedes | 1:21.807 | 12 | ||
18 | 20 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1:21.868 | 5 | ||
19 | 5 | Robert Kubica | BMW Sauber | 1:21.901 | 8 | ||
20 | 11 | Jaime Alguersuari | STR-Ferrari | 1:22.359 | 10 |