LOn his breathtaking hunt for all the best Formula 1 records, ewis Hamilton set another record for Michael Schumacher and not only demoted Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari to extras in sixth place. With overwhelming dominance, Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix for the eighth time in his unbeatable Mercedes – eight wins on the same route had previously only been achieved by Schumacher in Magny-Cours. It’s hard to imagine that his record of seven World Cup titles will withstand Hamilton’s rush beyond the end of the season.
For Vettel, who was lapped twelve laps before the end of the race by Hamilton, but fought brilliantly despite the inferiority of the Ferrari, the podium was inaccessible. Significant: Sixth place means the best season result of the four-time world champion. Places two and three went to Max Verstappen (Netherlands) in the Red Bull and Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas (Finland).
Nevertheless, after desolate Spielberg days, Vettel found new hope. “It was a better weekend than last, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said Vettel: “Mercedes doesn’t drive on its own planet, but in a completely different universe.”
As usual, the universe thanked its crew verbatim. “It makes me humble because I can work with such a fantastic group,” said Hamilton: “Many, many thanks to everyone at home and here on the track, my car runs like on rails.” On the only 4.3 km long course, the six-time champion had a lead of more than 25 seconds for a long time, so that he could comfortably afford another tire change shortly before the end of the race – to break the lap record.
Heavy rain had started over the Hungaroring 90 minutes before the start, the track did not dry out in time, so that almost all drivers chose intermediate tires. Bottas and Perez didn’t get anywhere at the start, but Vettel and his teammate Charles Leclerc (Monaco) set the pace.
After four rounds, the situation had changed so that the majority switched to slicks. Traffic in the pit lane cost Vettel a lot of time, after which it took him a few laps to fight his way back, but never got stuck.
At the top, Hamilton circled lonely with one lap after the other. Verstappen established itself behind, whose participation had been in question after a crash in the approach to the starting grid. “It’s the suspension, everything”, Verstappen sparked into the pits, but saved his demolished car at the start, where the mechanics made the car clear in a huck-jerk action.
With the repaired car, Verstappen decidedly bit behind Hamilton without being able to endanger the world champion at any time. “We can only be dangerous to ourselves,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff before starting at Sky.
Vettel managed to finish in front of Leclerc. Next year, the two Ferrari drivers are likely to be competitors in different colors, which Vettel will then represent, also remained open in Hungary. Neither himself nor RP team boss Otmar Szafnauer wanted to confirm his flirtation with Racing Point, which will be part of the Aston Martin factory team in 2021.
“It’s exciting right now, there are always new opportunities,” said the Hesse in conversation with Sky: “I really don’t know what it will be in the end, maybe I’ll stay in Formula 1, maybe I’ll drive in another Racing series, maybe I’ll retire for a while. “
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