Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton wins the Hungarian Mercedes Grand Prix

As of: 6:38 p.m. | Reading time: 4 minutes

SWith twelve laps to go, Lewis Hamilton rounded off Sebastian Vettel’s humiliation. Not even the best result of the season and a combative appearance after a failed pit stop could hide the inferiority of Vettel with the Formula 1 Ferrari against a Hamilton in record mood at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Vettel just made sixth place.

Hamilton drove a lonely race including the fastest lap at the Hungaroring on Sunday. With his eighth victory in the puszta after the seven pole positions on the course, the 35-year-old Briton equalized the best record of success on a course by Michael Schumacher. The record world champion once had eight victories at the French Grand Prix in Magny Cours.

“This is one of my favorite races. Without this great team and the great pit stops, it would not have worked. Everything was spot on this weekend, ”said Hamilton.

Second came Max Verstappen, who had demolished his Red Bull in the warm-up lap by hitting the course limits. Valtteri Bottas finished third. Hamilton’s teammate had to relinquish the British championship lead after the third part of the opening three-pack of the late Corona season. Vettel’s teammate Charles Leclerc didn’t even make it into the points and disappointed in eleventh.

“What is possible for us”

At Vettel, too, the joy of a class start did not last long, even if he survived the first round unharmed this time unlike in Spielberg a week ago. In the end, the four-time world champion from Germany drew a more than sobering conclusion after his sixth place: “I would have hoped that there was a bit more in it,” he said, but: “I think that is what is possible for us at the moment is. “

But first things first: The dark clouds above the Hungaroring lifted before the start, the previously wet route dried quickly.

Almost all of them had put on the mixed weather tires. But they also have their pitfalls: on the introductory lap Verstappen slipped off the track and damaged his Red Bull. Stress test for the mechanics, but they repaired the car within minutes. Then the red lights went out.

And Vettel came off the top five, as did team-mate Leclerc from six, Verstappen from seven and above all Hamilton from pole – the 90th of his career. On the other hand, Bottas completely failed from position two, as did Sergio Perez (fourth starting position) in the Racing Point.

Vettel with problems at the pit stop

Hamilton, Lance Stroll (Racing Point), Verstappen, Vettel, Leclerc, Bottas, Perez – this is the order after the first of 70 laps. But it didn’t last long either. The first in the top group quickly drove to the pits to change tires, the track was dry enough for the slicks.

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And as if Vettel hadn’t had enough breakdowns and disappointments in his farewell season at Ferrari with tenth place at the start in Austria and the end after a collision with Leclerc in round one a week ago in Spielberg, his pit stop lasted for an eternity. He stood with his Ferrari for over nine seconds – it took others a good two seconds.

The result: Vettel only ranked ninth after the tire changes and was stuck behind Leclerc, who was slower on the softer tires and slowed down his German colleagues. “My left front tire is dead,” he radioed to the pits – he had let Vettel pass just before.

The next Schumacher record is near

Hungary specialist Hamilton drove everyone away at the top. Verstappen, who was surprisingly strong after many problems on the previous days, could not put pressure on the British in any way. Hamilton had won seven times on the very curvy and only 4.4 kilometers long course. A year ago he had to fight a lot and just relegated the then Pole Verstappen to second place. This time it was like a Sunday walk with over 700 HP.

Ferrari brought Vettel into the pits again, like Leclerc the native of Heppenheim now got the hardest and therefore the most durable tire compound. A risky game: if it rained as predicted, the tire poker would turn out to be a failure. But it stayed dry at first.

Then Hamilton sparked: “I see raindrops.” But it was not enough to have a shower, Verstappen and Hamilton also came into the pits one after the other and equipped themselves with new tires for the long final sprint. The superiority of the number 44 pilot was clearly demonstrated in lap 44 when Hamilton Ferrari driver Leclerc lapped and later Vettel, who was also overtaken by Alexander Albon.

After fourth place at the start and victory a week ago, Hamilton underscored his ambitions for the seventh World Cup title, with which he would also catch up with Schumacher here.