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Hungarian Grand Prix F1 grid unchanged after 107% rule debate

The Hungarian Grand Prix grid will remain the same despite a lengthy debate over the application of Formula 1's 107% rule that could have impacted on 11 drivers

Article 35.1 of the sporting regulations states: "During Q1, any driver whose best qualifying lap exceeds 107% of the fastest time set during that session, or who fails to set a time, will not be allowed to take part in the race.

"Under exceptional circumstances however, which may include setting a suitable lap time in a free practice session, the stewards may permit the car to start the race.

"Any driver accepted in this manner will be placed at the back of the starting grid after any other penalties have been applied.

"Should there be more than one driver accepted in this manner they will be arranged on the grid in the order they were classified in P3."

A 20-minute rain delay and four red flags meant Q1 was disjointed and lasted over an hour, with a large number of drivers failing to get clear laps in on the drying track amid the stoppages.

That meant 11 of the 22 runners - Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Jolyon Palmer, Felipe Massa, Kevin Magnussen, Marcus Ericsson, Pascal Wehrlein and Rio Haryanto - were unable to complete laps within 107% of Nico Rosberg's leading time of 1m33.302s and could have been put to the back and lined up in practice three result order.

But the FIA decided "due to exceptional circumstances experienced during qualifying article 35.2 should take precedence over article 35.1".

Article 35.2 effectively defines how the Q1/Q2/Q3 system in place since 2006 works, with its wording based on a maximum 26-car field.

It reads: "The last eight positions will be occupied by the cars eliminated during Q1, the fastest in 19th position.

"The next eight positions will be occupied by the cars eliminated during Q2, the fastest in 11th position.

"The top 10 positions will be occupied by the cars which took part in Q3, the fastest from the position on the grid which was the pole position in the previous year or, on a new circuit, has been designated as such by the FIA safety delegate."

Article 17 of the sporting regulations says "appeals may not be made against decision concerning...any decision taken by the stewards in relation to article 35.1."

As a result, the grid remains unchanged.

The Red Bull drivers would have been worst affected as Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen went on to qualify third and fourth.

STARTING GRID

Pos Driver Car Time Gap
1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m19.965s -
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m20.108s 0.143s
3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 1m20.280s 0.315s
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Renault 1m20.557s 0.592s
5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m20.874s 0.909s
6 Carlos Sainz Jr. Toro Rosso/Ferrari 1m21.131s 1.166s
7 Fernando Alonso McLaren/Honda 1m21.211s 1.246s
8 Jenson Button McLaren/Honda 1m21.597s 1.632s
9 Nico Hulkenberg Force India/Mercedes 1m21.823s 1.858s
10 Valtteri Bottas Williams/Mercedes 1m22.182s 2.217s
11 Romain Grosjean Haas/Ferrari 1m24.941s -
12 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso/Ferrari 1m25.301s -
13 Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes 1m25.416s -
14 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m25.435s -
15 Esteban Gutierrez Haas/Ferrari 1m26.189s -
16 Felipe Nasr Sauber/Ferrari 1m27.063s -
17 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1m43.965s -
18 Felipe Massa Williams/Mercedes 1m43.999s -
19 Kevin Magnussen Renault 1m44.543s -
20 Pascal Wehrlein Manor/Mercedes 1m47.343s -
21 Rio Haryanto Manor/Mercedes 1m50.189s -
22 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 1m46.984s -

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