F1 Hungarian Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Verstappen WINS with Lewis Hamilton in SECOND in thriller – reaction
DUTCH ace Max Verstappen performed the drive of the 2022 season after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix after starting tenth.
And there was double joy for Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both finishing on the podium.
Red Bull driver Verstappen has extended his Championship lead to 80 points with his nearest rival Charles Leclerc coming home in sixth.
It was a disappointing performance from the Ferrari man who had been leading the race.
His team-mate Carlos Sainz finished in fourth, with Red Bull's Sergio Perez in fifth.
- Grand Prix: Sunday, July 31 - 2pm BST
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A sensational and thrilling Hungarian Grand Priz saw Verstappen conquer the circuit once again.
But Lewis Hamilton is improving all the time - clocking up some points in P2.
However, with his win Dutchman Verstappen has now opened up an 80 point lead at the top of the drivers standings.
Tune in with us next time for another thrilling chapter in the F1 season. Until then, it's goodnight from us.
They've got wings
Red Bull were in celebratory mood after the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Look at their team go!
Russell pleased with progress
George Russell finished in third, after starting in pole.
He's happy that progress is being made.
He said: "When it started spitting at the beginning and we were on the soft tyres I thought we were on, and we had a strong start it was a good first stint, and then towards the end on the mediums I really struggled and loosing a bit of temperate.
"Again, an amazing job by the team in pole position yesterday, double podium, we are definitely making progress so really proud of the work everyone has done.
"I'm sure there's a lot I will look over and I could have done better. Managing the tyres obviously we pitted quite early on both stints so you're trying to eat the tyre out to the end, trying to push as hard as possible at the same time. A bit of a challenging position to be in but never the less pleased to come away with a podium.
"I think it's been incredibly intense start to the season I think a break will do everyone some good."
Hamilton's warning
Lewis Hamilton has warned championship leader Max Verstappen he will be back to fighting for race victories after the summer break.
The seven-time World Champion finished second behind the Dutchman at Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Verstappen produced a magnificent drive to win the race from 10th thanks in part to another Ferrari strategy mishap.
But Hamilton, who also finished the race with the fastest lap, vowed to be back fighting the championship front-runners on the other side of the summer break.
He told Sky Sports after the race: "I was definitely struggling at the beginning but bit by bit I got more comfortable with the balance.
"I had a really good start so I want to acknowledge my team. We've had a tough year and for both cars to be on the podium is an amazing way to go into the break.
"The other guys have an edge but we are clearly closing the gap. Hopefully we can bring some more into the second half of the season and start fighting with them."
Verstappen laughs off spin
Max Verstappen was lucky to survive a spin during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
But despite the 360, the champ was victorious and in joking mood.
"I was struggling a bit with the shifts and the clutch, and we had to change a few things around that to basically burn the clutch," he said.
"That cost a bit of performance and I think that caught me out of that corner. But luckily, I could do a 360 so I only lost one spot."
Ferrari explain tyres decision
Ferrari have revealed why they put Charles Leclerc on hard tyres.
Team principal Mattia Binotto said they relied on the team's simulation to make the decision.
"When we fitted the hard, our simulation was that it could have been a difficult couple of laps of warm-up," Binotto explained.
"It would have been slower to the medium for 10-11 laps, and then it would have come back and been faster than the end of the stint, and it was a 30-lap stint.
"We were trying to protect position on Max. It would have been too long certainly for the softs. Yes, it would have been difficult at the start of the stint, but it would have come back by the end."
Leclerc's strategy
Charles Leclerc has spoken about his strategy in relation to the tyres.
The Frenchman finished well off the pace in sixth spot.
Afterwards he revealed: "I said on the radio that I was very comfortable with the medium and that I wanted to go as long as possible with those tyres because the feeling was good.
"I don't know why we took a different decision".
Verstappen soars in Hungaroring
While Max Verstappen drove the perfect race today, a lot of credit has to go to Red Bull for the decisions they made.
The choice of tyres in particular made a big difference today and allowed the Dutch driver to attack from the off as he looked to make up a number of places after an indifferent qualifying.
Even a 360 degree spinout on the track could not stop Verstappen being beaten.
Ferrari left speaking double Dutch
In the post-race interviews the Ferrari team spoke about how they need to analyse the race and look at where they need to improve.
Partly they claimed that the choices were made to give their drivers the chance of lapping faster times but Leclerc was already doing that before his pit stop.
The changing to hard tyres really cost the Frenchman and left him languishing in sixth place at the end of the race.
Tactics cost Ferrari dear yet again
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will feel as though they have been let down today by their teams.
Some of the choices made were very questionable and obviously cost them as they finished fourth and sixth respectively.
The post-race interview with Carlos really showed how unhappy he was with some of the decisions made in Hungary today.
Verstappen with enviable lead in championship
You have to question whether Max Verstappen has things already sewn up in terms of the F1 season.
After today's win, the Dutch driver could afford three DNF's and still be top of the 2022 F1 standings.
It would be a huge ask of anyone to catch him now.
Dutch master takes control in Hungary
When he lined up on 10th place on the starting grid, it seemed that even for Max Verstappen it could be too much of an ask to win this race today.
If you told him he would also spin out on the track, even he would have questioned how high his finishing position would be.
Red Bull obviously gives you wings.
I'm spinning around, move outta my way.....
Controlling his car when it spun around 360 degrees, to continue and go onto to win the race, this was very well deserved.
Hungarian Grand Prix results:
- Max Verstappen
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Carlos Sainz
- Sergio Perez
- Charles Leclerc
Max Verstappen wins the Hungarian Grand Prix from 10th place on the starting grid, what a way to end the first half of the F1 season.
Max Verstappen wins the Hungarian Grand Prix!!
Hungarian Grand Prix: Lap 70
The rain is starting to come down right now as Verstappen tries to tip-toe around the track on the last lap.
Hamilton has reduced the gap to under 8.5 seconds now.
If there was more than half a lap left, this would be a worrying time for Verstappen but his hard work seems to have got him the win.
Hungarian Grand Prix: Lap 69
Bottas is forced to retire as his car comes to a stop just off the track.
Virtual safety car is in place now.
This adds another element to the race as it will extend the length of the race significantly and brings in the potential of seeing some rain.
Red Bull will need to consider their tactics to ensure Verstappen's victory here.
Hungarian Grand Prix: Lap 67
As we predicted Hamilton's endeavours have taken some real toll on those tyres and Verstappen seems to have Hamilton covered.
He is currently 10.6 seconds ahead of Hamilton in second.
What a win this would be from tenth place on the grid.
Hungarian Grand Prix: Lap 65
Hamilton takes over Russell on turn one.
Mercedes have second and third place as we stand.
If we were to see any rain now, it would probably be Hamilton's only chance to challenge Verstappen on medium tyres.
Hungarian Grand Prix: Lap 63
Lewis Hamilton overtakes Carlos Sainz.
Mercedes have the chance to allow Hamilton to swap places with George Russell but they will be worried about allowing Sainz to sneak in ahead of Russell also.
It may be one step too far for Hamilton to challenge Verstappen as those tyres will have deteriorated considerably by then.
No team orders for Russell just yet.
Hungarian Grand Prix: Lap 61
Lewis Hamilton continues to put in quick lap times with the soft tyres and lighter car with less fuel on board.
He is flying around the track and catching up with the front three.
Verstappen continues to hold onto first place ahead of George Russell in second place.
We are into the last 10 laps of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hungarian Grand Prix: Lap 59
We are waiting for the moment where Hamilton manages to take Carlos Sainz and Russell is asked to step aside for him.
Hamilton is putting in some seriously fast laps since his pit.
Verstappen needs to manage those tyres well to win this race.