Max Verstappen wins from Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to open up 80-point title lead over Charles Leclerc; Leclerc had led but eventually finishes sixth with Ferrari strategy questioned again; Lando Norris seventh
Last Updated: 31/07/22 4:36pm
Max Verstappen produced a stunning comeback drive from 10th on the grid to win the Hungarian Grand Prix and extend his title lead over Charles Leclerc, following another miserable Sunday for the Ferrari driver.
In a captivating race where three teams were in contention for the win, Verstappen fought back from his reliability-hampered qualifying with stonking pace and smart Red Bull strategy, and then passed Leclerc twice – before and after a nervy spin in slippery conditions – to essentially seal his victory with 25 laps remaining.
To make matters worse for Leclerc, the victim of more questionable pit-stop calls from Ferrari, he would eventually finish a meagre sixth, meaning Verstappen has a mighty 80-point title lead heading into F1’s summer break.
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Max Verstappen crosses the line to secure a brilliant victory from 10th on the grid with Lewis Hamilton finishing second!
There was a surprise repeat of the podium in France as Lewis Hamilton, who also enjoyed a fine recovery from seventh, was second ahead of pole-sitter George Russell, with Mercedes celebrating another double podium in Ferrari’s avoidable absence.
Leclerc had started third and after overcutting team-mate Carlos Sainz, ended Russell’s creditable resistance for the lead on Lap 31. At that stage he appeared primed to bounce back from his Paul Ricard crash to take a championship-boosting win.
But trying to respond to Verstappen’s pace, Ferrari stopped Leclerc onto the hard tyre and left him as a sitting duck to the Red Bull and indeed their other rivals.
Leclerc called the strategy a “disaster” and pitted again to finish behind Sergio Perez, who was the only Red Bull, Mercedes or Ferrari driver not to hold the lead at some stage.
Sainz was fourth as, like Russell, he was overtaken by Hamilton in the closing stages as the seven-time world champion flew on the soft tyres.
Lando Norris couldn’t hold his starting position of fourth but did well to hold off the Alpines for seventh, with McLaren team-mate Daniel Ricciardo a disappointing 15th and picking up a penalty for a Lance Stroll clash.
Hungarian GP Race Result: Top 101) Max Verstappen, Red Bull2) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes3) George Russell, Mercedes4) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari5) Sergio Perez, Red Bull6) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari7) Lando Norris, McLaren8) Fernando Alonso, Alpine9) Esteban Ocon, Alpine10) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
More to follow.
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What’s next in F1 2022?
The sport now embarks on a four-week summer break before the Belgian GP on August 28. The race at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps kickstarts a European triple header with Zandvoort and Monza.
Every race is live and exclusive on Sky Sports F1.