Record Red Bull! Verstappen wins Hungarian VC, McLaren scores another podium thanks to Norris

Another grand prix, another triumph for Red Bull and Max Verstappen. For the eleventh time this year, no other team’s driver reached the top step. Thanks to another convincing and trouble-free performance by the reigning world champion, the Milton Keynes, UK-based team scored its twelfth victory in a row. The McLaren record from the 1988 season, which until recently was considered completely unbeatable, was thus broken. Verstappen was accompanied on the podium at the Hungaroring in Hungary by McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez in the second car.

This year’s Formula One season concluded its first half with the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring. This circuit made its debut on the calendar of the queen of motorsport in 1986. Back then, it was the first ever race behind the then Iron Curtain.

At the same time, the Hungaroring is a haven for a large number of Czech and Slovak fans. And thanks to a newly signed contract with F1, they can visit the Hungarian VC and see the fastest monoblocs in the world until 2032.

Disaster for Alpine

Lewis Hamilton was coming off his 104th career pole position. Standing next to him on the grid was championship leader Max Verstappen, who took over the race lead by charging up the inside of Turn 1.

However, Hamilton succumbed to both McLaren cars in the opening corners of the grand prix. Behind them, Alpin team-mates Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly clashed after the start. However, it was only after a minor mistake by a poorly-starting Kuan-yu Zhou, who failed to brake and tapped returning driver Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian subsequently bumped into Ocon, who flipped over his compatriot. The race ended early for both.

Verstappen takes the inside line at Turn 1

And there's contact at the start further down the field with Tsunoda and the two Alpines involved#HungarianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/FoX0CFDma1

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 23, 2023

Verstappen, predictably, took the lead. What could be considered unexpected, however, were second and third places for McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

A great start was made by Carlos Sainz and George Russell. Both the Spanish Ferrari driver and the British Mercedes driver gained five positions over their starting positions in the first ten laps. Sergio Pérez was also the one who earned, as he got past Fernando Alonso on his third attempt on lap eight. Poor Zhou, on the other hand, received a five-second penalty for causing a collision at the opening corner after his miserable start.

A quiet middle part of the race

Verstappen gradually built up a bigger and bigger lead over Piastri at the front. The first pit stops saw the light of day around lap 10, when most of the drivers starting the race ditched their soft tyres. The exception was Sainz, who visited his mechanics on lap fifteen.

The bulk of the action in the opening third of the race centred around team strategy and in the pit lane itself. Firstly, Ferrari mechanics failed to fit Leclerc’s left rear tyre, causing the Monegasque to lose ground on his teammate Sainz. Meanwhile, both McLaren drivers made pit stops. This strategic mini-battle was won by Norris, who pitted earlier to get ahead of his teammate.

However, McLaren was still riding high at the Hungaroring after a phenomenal result at Silverstone. Pole position owner Hamilton even lost out considerably to the orange Monoposts after his own pitstop, which clearly caught him by surprise, as his team radio also revealed.

After dealing with Leclerc’s Ferrari, Pérez attacked Russell on lap 28. The Briton wasn’t about to give up fifth position and it was a wonder they didn’t collide as the two cars went through the fast third corner almost wheel to wheel.

The only action came from Pérez at the turn of the first and second half of the race, who chased down fourth-placed Hamilton lap by lap. On lap 41, the Mexican caught the seven-time world champion and attempted an overtaking manoeuvre three laps apart. None of Pérez’s attempts bore fruit, so the team called him to the pits for a medium compound.

A quieter finish to the race

Although Pérez didn’t get to grips with Hamilton, he at least had a race with Piastri on lap 47, who he passed on the outside at the first corner. The Australian McLaren driver tried to retaliate with a similar manoeuvre just a corner later, but was unsuccessful.

Leclerc did not forgive himself for his mistake when his over-zealous entry into the pit lane was punished by the stewards with a five-second penalty.

The final laps of the Hungarian GP brought some difficult moments for McLaren. Fourth-placed Piastri was overtaken by Hamilton on lap 57, while second-placed Norris was pursued at a brisk pace by Pérez. Fortunately for the fans of the team from Woking, UK, Norris was able to recover. His lead over Pérez at the moment the chequered flag waved was around four seconds.

Almost all of the race was without yellow flags. It wasn’t until two laps to go that Logan Sargeant spun in a chicane, which resulted in his retirement at the very end of the grand prix.

Even the Hungarian VC produced no other winner than Max Verstappen. The Dutchman scored his ninth win of the year for himself and helped Red Bull to a record 12th consecutive triumph. This surpassed McLaren’s 35-year-old success, whose near-perfect season Red Bull and Verstappen will surely attack. Norris brought his mclaren to the finish line in silver for the second consecutive year. He was joined on the podium by Pérez after starting from ninth place.

Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix results (race 11/22, 70 laps = 306.630 km; top 10 only):

1. Max Verstappen (Niz., Red Bull) 1:38:08.634
2. Lando Norris (Brit., McLaren) +33.731
3. Sergio Pérez (Mex., Red Bull) +37.603
4. Lewis Hamilton (Brit., Mercedes) +39.134
5. Oscar Piastri (Aus., McLaren) +1:02.572
6. George Russell (Brit., Mercedes) +1:05.825
7. Charles Leclerc (Mon., Ferrari) +1:10.317
8. Carlos Sainz (Span., Ferrari) +1:11.073
9. Fernando Alonso (Span., Aston Martin) +1:15.709
10. Lance Stroll (Can., Aston Martin) +1 lap

2023 Formula One drivers’ standings (after 11/22; top 10 only):

1. Max Verstappen (Niz., Red Bull) 281 points
2. Sergio Pérez (Mex., Red Bull) 171
3. Fernando Alonso (Spain, Aston Martin) 139
4. Lewis Hamilton (Brit., Mercedes) 133
5. George Russell (Brit., Mercedes) 90
6. Carlos Sainz (Span., Ferrari) 87
7. Charles Leclerc (Mon., Ferrari) 80
8. Lando Norris (Brit., McLaren) 60
9. Lance Stroll (Can., Aston Martin) 45
10. Esteban Ocon (Fra., Alpine) 31

Source: F1