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BUDAPEST, Hungary - Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes caught fire during qualifying for Sunday's (July 27) 2014 Hungarian GP .
Lewis Hamilton's hopes of regaining ground in the 2014 Formula 1 Drivers' championship went up in smoke on Saturday (July 26) when his Mercedes burst into flames in the opening minutes of qualifying.
Team boss Niki Lauda lamented Hamilton's run of "unfair" bad luck which will greatly hinder his chances in Sunday's race.
SETBACKS IN 2014
The following fact box details Hamilton's F1 setbacks during the 2014 season as he challenges team mate Nico Rosberg for the title.
HUNGARY - July 27
Car caught fire in first phase of qualifying. Mercedes blamed a fuel leak. Hamilton, who qualified 21st, feared gearbox and engine would be replaced and incur a grid penalty. He'll start from pits lane. Rosberg on pole.
GERMANY - July 20
Front brake disc failed in first phase of qualifying. Hamilton's car pitched hard into barriers and he started20th. Rosberg on pole. Hamilton ended up third in race won by his team mate.
BRITAIN - July 6
Hamilton qualified sixth after aborting his final lap, while on provisional pole, on the mistaken assumption that he could not go any quicker in wet conditions.
The track dried faster than expected and Rosberg took pole. Hamilton ended up winning after the German had his first race retirement.
AUSTRIA - June 22
Hamilton failed to set a lap time in the final phase of qualifying after his first effort was disallowed for exceeding the track limits. He then spun on his second lap. Hamilton started ninth, Rosberg third.
Felipe Massa took pole for Williams, Hamilton second, Rosberg won.
CANADA - June 8
Rosberg took pole with Hamilton starting second at a favourite circuit. "It just wasn't the greatest qualifying session," said the Englishman. "Sometimes you have good ones, sometimes you have bad ones." Hamilton then retired with a rear brake problem. Daniel Ricciardo won for Red Bull.
MONACO - May 25
A controversial pole for Rosberg, who locked up in the final seconds and skidded down an escape road, bringing out yellow flags that prevented Hamilton - behind him on his final quick lap - going faster.
The relationship between the two became severely strained as a result. Rosberg won.
SPAIN - May 11
Hamilton won from pole
CHINA - April 20
Hamilton won from pole
BAHRAIN - April 6
Rosberg took pole after a last-lap error by Hamilton, who ran wide. He had been quickest throughout practice. Hamilton won the race.
MALAYSIA - March 30
Hamilton won from pole
AUSTRALIA - March 16
Hamilton took pole but retired on Lap 3 with an engine problem. Rosberg won.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Hungarian GP this weekend.
Lewis Hamilton's hopes of regaining ground in the 2014 Formula 1 Drivers' championship went up in smoke on Saturday (July 26) when his Mercedes burst into flames in the opening minutes of qualifying.
Team boss Niki Lauda lamented Hamilton's run of "unfair" bad luck which will greatly hinder his chances in Sunday's race.
SETBACKS IN 2014
The following fact box details Hamilton's F1 setbacks during the 2014 season as he challenges team mate Nico Rosberg for the title.
HUNGARY - July 27
Car caught fire in first phase of qualifying. Mercedes blamed a fuel leak. Hamilton, who qualified 21st, feared gearbox and engine would be replaced and incur a grid penalty. He'll start from pits lane. Rosberg on pole.
GERMANY - July 20
Front brake disc failed in first phase of qualifying. Hamilton's car pitched hard into barriers and he started20th. Rosberg on pole. Hamilton ended up third in race won by his team mate.
BRITAIN - July 6
Hamilton qualified sixth after aborting his final lap, while on provisional pole, on the mistaken assumption that he could not go any quicker in wet conditions.
The track dried faster than expected and Rosberg took pole. Hamilton ended up winning after the German had his first race retirement.
AUSTRIA - June 22
Hamilton failed to set a lap time in the final phase of qualifying after his first effort was disallowed for exceeding the track limits. He then spun on his second lap. Hamilton started ninth, Rosberg third.
Felipe Massa took pole for Williams, Hamilton second, Rosberg won.
CANADA - June 8
Rosberg took pole with Hamilton starting second at a favourite circuit. "It just wasn't the greatest qualifying session," said the Englishman. "Sometimes you have good ones, sometimes you have bad ones." Hamilton then retired with a rear brake problem. Daniel Ricciardo won for Red Bull.
MONACO - May 25
A controversial pole for Rosberg, who locked up in the final seconds and skidded down an escape road, bringing out yellow flags that prevented Hamilton - behind him on his final quick lap - going faster.
The relationship between the two became severely strained as a result. Rosberg won.
SPAIN - May 11
Hamilton won from pole
CHINA - April 20
Hamilton won from pole
BAHRAIN - April 6
Rosberg took pole after a last-lap error by Hamilton, who ran wide. He had been quickest throughout practice. Hamilton won the race.
MALAYSIA - March 30
Hamilton won from pole
AUSTRALIA - March 16
Hamilton took pole but retired on Lap 3 with an engine problem. Rosberg won.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Hungarian GP this weekend.
