Lewis Hamilton has first chance to tie Michael Schumacher F1 pole record at Hungarian GP

Lewis Hamilton has his first chance to equal Michael Schumacher's F1 pole position record in Saturday's Hungarian GP qualifying hour.

Schumacher's record of 68 poles was set at the 2006 French GP, seven races after the German broke Ayrton Senna's previous benchmark of 65 which had stood since the Brazilian's death 12 years earlier.

Qualifying at the Hungaroring starts at 1pm today, live only on Sky Sports F1, with build-up from midday. Practice Three action starts at 10am.

However, Hamilton has conceded it is "not going to be easy for us to get pole" after Mercedes were outpaced by Red Bull and Ferrari in Friday practice.

Schumacher claimed what turned out to be the 68th and final pole of his career at the 243rd attempt, whereas Saturday will be Hamilton's 199th F1 qualifying session.

In his later three-year comeback to the sport, Schumacher did famously set the qualifying pace at Monaco in 2012 but the pole did not count in the record books owing to a five-place grid penalty. Mark Webber is instead credited with that year's Monaco pole.

Hamilton, who is also second to Schumacher in F1's all-time race wins table, was keen not to get ahead of himself when asked on Thursday about the prospect of matching one of the sport's most significant records.

"To be honest, I can't say what it would feel like," Hamilton told reporters. "Yes, I will get that pole at some stage and I'd rather just wait until that moment. I am sure it will be an indescribable feeling but how it really feels I cannot tell.

"This is the future."

Hamilton has previously claimed pole five times at the Hungaroring but looks set to have to win a three-team fight for supremacy this time if he is to earn a sixth on Saturday afternoon.

With Red Bull surprisingly topping both Friday sessions with an upgraded car, Hamilton was only fifth in second practice although, unlike his rivals, did not set a quick lap on the fastest supersoft tyres.

"It's going to be one of the most difficult qualifying sessions that we've had I think, certainly going by Friday," Hamilton said.

"I have got to focus on doing the job. It's all good and well when you do finally achieve something but to get there, it's not going to be easy for us to get pole. I wasn't getting the laps [on Friday] and if that carries over it may not be a great day.

"I think this weekend you will see one of the closest battles time-wise. There are a lot of different things that can make a difference in Formula 1 but I like to hope I can make the difference."

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