The Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session threatened to throw up a few surprises beforehand with a huge storm cloud looming over the track.
But nobody could have predicted the eventual outcome following the three free practice sessions.
Mercedes looked completely off the pace prior to qualifying with both Red Bull and Ferrari expected to fight it out for pole.
But the heavens opened in Q2 and Red Bull were unable to cope.
Daniel Ricciardo didn’t react quickly enough and was the biggest casualty in the second session, meaning he will start the race in 12th.
And the drama continued in Q3 with Mercedes remarkably finding the pace in the wet that they didn’t have all week in Hungary.
Hamilton has proven in the past how good he is in the wet and it was another masterclass finish to put his car on pole just ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
Speaking after qualifying, Hamilton admitted he went through an “emotional rollercoaster”.
“The Ferraris have been quicker all weekend and we were just trying to be close to them, but the heavens opened,” Hamilton said.
“It is so tricky out there. It was dry for a part of the lap and then wet. It is really difficult to arrive in the corner and know what grip you have. Then at the end you were just looking for a grippy line.
“It is about give and take, each corner, I was up, I was down, I was up, I was down. It was an emotional rollercoaster.
“Were going to do our best [in the race] to work as a team and keep the red guys behind us.”
Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying results LIVE
Hungarian Grand Prix Q1 results
Out in Q1: Sirotkin, Perez, Ocon, Leclerc, Vandoorne
Hungarian Grand Prix Q2 results
Out in Q2: Alonso, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Ericsson, Stroll.
Hungarian Grand Prix Q3 results
Top 10: Hamilton, Bottas, Raikkonen, Vettel, Sainz, Gasly, Verstappen, Hartley, Magnussen, Grosjean