World champion Max Verstappen fully exploited another Ferrari flop to pull 80 points clear of Charles Leclerc in this year's title race with an emphatic Red Bull triumph in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Just a week after his crushing win at the French Grand Prix, where Leclerc crashed out of the lead, the 24-year-old Dutchman scored his first win at the Hungaroring, his eighth this year and the 28th of his career.
Starting from 10th on the grid, after engine problems in qualifying on Saturday required a new power unit, he sliced through the field to finish 7.8 seconds ahead of Mercedes' seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, who had started from his maiden pole position.
"When we woke up this morning who would have thought we would win this race?" said the Dutchman.
Wow what a day! It was a crazy race, but we stayed calm and won! This feels absolutely amazing ??
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 31, 2022
The car was great and today we adapted to the circumstances really good, so our strategy worked out perfectly. Mega job team @redbullracing ??#HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/YwYTty5QXW
With Russell on pole and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Leclerc second and third on the grid, pre-race forecasts made the Italian team favourites to control and win with some ease as the Red Bulls were 10th and 11th.
But a combination of poor tyre management, slow pit-stops and questionable strategy saw them finish fifth and sixth, behind Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull, who started 11th, after looking likely winners.
"I was hoping I could get close to a podium, but it was very tricky out there," said Verstappen.
"But we had a really good strategy, we were really reactive, always pitting at the right time."
MAX: “Very tricky conditions out there but we had a really good strategy… and even with a 360° we won the race. It was a lot of fun out there"#HungarianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/CxDcia3AXi
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 31, 2022
Hamilton, who started seventh was seeking to increase his record haul of eight Hungarian wins, registered his fifth consecutive podium and a successive second position.
"I was definitely struggling at the beginning, but bit by bit I got more comfortable with the balance," he said.
"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 summer 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."
That’s P2 and back to back double podiums for @MercedesAMGF1 !! We're going into the summer break much stronger than we were at the start of the season. We are moving FORWARD and that win is getting CLOSER! Thank you to all the fans, hope you enjoyed that one ???? pic.twitter.com/PwIdw5c8sr
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) July 31, 2022
'I WAS CONFUSED'
Russell, who led for 30 laps, said he had a strong first stint, but that he struggled on the medium compound tyres and lost temperature in the closing laps.
"But it's been an amazing job by the team to have pole position and a double podium – we are definitely making progress. I am really proud of the work everyone has done."
Wanted more starting from pole but couldn’t be prouder of the job we’ve done as a team today and over the past few months to close the gap. Another double podium. Let’s keep pushing! ?? pic.twitter.com/Nd3oX42GWv
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) July 31, 2022
Both Sainz and Leclerc were dismayed by their results.
"I felt very strong and very comfortable on the mediums," said Leclerc who led the race and looked likely to win before a pit-stop to switch unexpectedly to hard tyres.
"I wanted to stay out and I don't know why I was called in. I was confused by that.
"I lost the race on the hard tyres and I don't know why. We need to speak about this inside the team."
Sainz said he felt he was slower than expected.
"It is what it is," he said. "We struggled as a team and in the lower temperatures the track changed and the car and the tyres did not perform.
"We need to analyse this to see what we did wrong and, after the summer break, come back with a better package. We have to speak about it inside the team to get to do this better."
Ferrari team chief Mattia Binotto defended the team’s decisions.
"We didn't have the performance we expected and the car was not performing well in the cooler conditions," he said. "It's the first time this season.
"We did not have the edge today. We believed we could do it, but it did not work out as we were expecting. Sometimes, we can make mistakes, but I fully support the team."
#HungarianGP Results ??@CarlosSainz55 P4@Charles_Leclerc P6
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) July 31, 2022
Not the race we wanted ??#essereFerrari ?? pic.twitter.com/JXQDSGWRd7
Lando Norris finished seventh for McLaren ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso and his Alpine team-mate Esteban Ocon and retirement-bound four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin.
RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1hr 39min 35.912sec
2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) at 7.834sec
3. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 12.337
4. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) 14.579
5. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 15.688
6. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 16.047
7. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:18.300
8. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault) 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1 lap
10. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1 lap
11. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1 lap
12. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1 lap
13. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1 lap
14. Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1 lap
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1 lap
16. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1 lap
17. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1 lap
18. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1 lap
19. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 2 laps
20. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 5 laps
Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:21.386 on 57th lap (average speed: 260.580 km/h)RACE CLASSIFICATION (LAP 70/70)
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 31, 2022
Starts P10, finishes P1 - what a drive from @Max33Verstappen ??????#HungarianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/qQp0ZJFCom
Did not finish: Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (after 13 races)
DRIVERS
1. Max Verstappen (NED) 258pts
2. Charles Leclerc (MON) 178
3. Sergio Perez (MEX) 173
4. George Russell (GBR) 158
5. Carlos Sainz (ESP) 156
6. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 146
7. Lando Norris (GBR) 76
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 58
9. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 46
10. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 41
11. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 22
12. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 19
13. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 16
14. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 16
15. Mick Schumacher (GER) 12
16. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) 11
17. Zhou Guanyu (CHN) 5
18. Lance Stroll (CAN) 4
19. Alexander Albon (THA) 3
20. Nicholas Latifi (CAN) 0
21. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 0
After 13/22 rounds ??#HungarianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Jqvyb3OBOb
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 31, 2022
CONSTRUCTORS
1. Red Bull 431pts
2. Ferrari 334
3. Mercedes 304
4. Alpine-Renault 99
5. McLaren-Mercedes 95
6. Alfa Romeo 51
7. Haas-Ferrari 34
8. AlphaTauri-Red Bull 27
9. Aston Martin-Mercedes 20
10. Williams-Mercedes 3
After 13 rounds...
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 31, 2022
Ferrari ?? 30 pts ?? Mercedes #HungarianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/8s0A9AUoph