From 10 to 1: Verstappen on the way to the next world title

On another day to forget for his closest rival Charles Leclerc and Ferrari, the Dutch world champion raced from tenth place on the grid to his 28th Grand Prix victory in his Red Bull. In a race that was unusually eventful and exciting for the Hungaroring, Leclerc, who was leading at times and seemingly heading towards victory, didn't even come into second place. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton landed there ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who started from pole.

Lerclerc, who was devastated a week ago after his retirement in France after a driving error, couldn't get past sixth place after a tire antics by the Scuderia. The gap to Verstappen is now 80 points will also follow him during the four-week summer break. “What a race, who would have thought?” said the Dutchman over the radio. His team boss Christian Horner said: “There’s no better way to start a summer break.” Two Mercedes on the podium At the start of the race, Russell defended the first pole of his career. The 24-year-old Brit immediately came under pressure from behind, Leclerc first grabbed his teammate Sainz, then the Monegasse attacked Russell. But without success. Hamilton quickly gained two places and moved up to fifth place in the second Silver Arrow, Verstappen was in seventh place after the botched qualification with a drive defect and tenth place after the first laps - and the trend is rising, and how!

Lewis Hamilton showed a strong race and came 2nd. © APA/afp / ATTILA KISBENEDEK

In the meantime, Sainz had overtaken Leclerc again and started chasing Russell. “The Ferrari strategy is always good for surprises,” Red Bull’s motorsport director Helmut Marko said before the start of the race. After the Leclerc disaster in France with his departure in the lead after a driver error, the World Cup chaser could have used every point. Ferrari disappointed Russell would have to come in earlier to change tires with the soft cars than the two Ferraris, he couldn't really get a lead. “No idea,” Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff said before the race about the possible outcome. The slipping on the softest tires also became more and more serious for Russell, after which Leclerc made it clear to his box that he believed he was faster than his teammate Sainz.

Ferrari sorted it out in its own way: Sainz came in to change tires directly after Russell, but it took a long time at 3,7 seconds. Leclerc immediately gained a clear lead at the front before he also turned into the pits. Back on the track, Leclerc had Russell ahead of him again, but Sainz was behind him. Then Verstappen followed. The excitement after a radio call like the day before about a defect subsided again and the Dutchman got closer and closer to the podium. And even a victory. Budapest Grand Prix: The result

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From 10 to 1: Verstappen on the way to the next world title

After his debut victory at the Grand Prix in Budapest, Max Verstappen can already dream of a second World Cup triumph during the Formula 1 holidays.

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