In a thrilling Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen capitalised on Lewis Hamilton’s disastrous start to claim a commanding victory, extending Red Bull’s dominance with 12 consecutive race wins.
The championship leader, Verstappen, now has an impressive streak of seven consecutive race victories, edging closer to Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine set in 2013.
Hamilton’s 18-month pole position drought came to an end with a record-breaking 104th pole in Formula 1 on Saturday.
However, the seven-time world champion’s joy was short-lived as his race quickly unravelled due to a terrible start.
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Verstappen took full advantage, executing a brilliant launch to surge past Hamilton into the first corner and secure the lead.
The Hungaroring, a track that was thought to be unfavourable for McLaren, didn’t hinder their drivers’ performance.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri exhibited impressive race pace, both managing to overtake Hamilton and claim second and third positions, respectively.
Their strong performance, however, was not enough to secure a double podium for McLaren, as Sergio Perez battled his way up the order and clinched a spot in the top three for only the second time in six races.
For Hamilton, the nightmare start not only cost him the lead but also forced him to concede positions to both McLarens.
Frustrated, he acknowledged his error over the team radio, saying, “Sorry about that guys.”
Alpine also faced catastrophe on the first lap, with both drivers retiring due to a collision triggered by Zhou Guanyu.
Once Verstappen took the lead, his mastery on the track was evident as he steadily increased his advantage.
By lap 16, his lead had already stretched to seven seconds, further highlighting Red Bull’s superiority on race day.
The strategic battle in the pits added an intriguing dimension to the race.
The intra-team dynamic at McLaren led to Norris gaining an advantage over Piastri with a superb out-lap after the first pit stop.
Norris secured back-to-back second-place finishes, achieving consecutive podiums in Formula 1 for the first time in his career.
While Verstappen dominated at the front, Piastri valiantly defended his position against Hamilton and Charles Leclerc but was eventually overtaken by both.
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Despite the setbacks, the young Australian showcased resilience and skill throughout the race.
Despite struggling in practice sessions, Red Bull found their form on race day, demonstrating that their RB19 remains a force to be reckoned with in the championship.
Verstappen’s win marks an impressive 12 consecutive race victories for the team, a new record in Formula 1, solidifying their status as the team to beat.