Verstappen makes F1 history look easy in Hungary with intense battle behind

The early-season form of McLaren and Aston has been transposed. No-one at Aston seems to have a decisive read on why the car’s form has dropped off so alarmingly in the last few races and the engineers there were quick to dismiss Alonso’s theory about the front tyre construction change from Silverstone playing a part. But McLaren’s new-found form is very much the product of its big aero revision two races ago. As fifth-place finisher Piastri said, “Just a few races ago, this combination of slow corners and a hot track would have been a nightmare for us.” Now they can race on equal terms for the status of best of the rest.

“Lewis complains a lot about how amazing our car is and how bad theirs is,” said Norris afterwards. “But they do not have a bad car. If he’d beaten us through the first corner he’d have beaten us in the race and would have finished second.”

“You’re just so quick through the fast corners,” interjected Verstappen. “I think in qualifying in Turn 11 if I drove your car I couldn’t hold my neck straight!”

“Yeah, but then I get to the slow corners and it’s terrible.”

You watch the McLaren through a slow corner and it looks fine on turn-in, loads up nicely but just when you’d imagine it’s all set up for the remainder of the turn and the driver can get confidently on the gas, it just runs wide. It exits with understeer. But yes it is superb through the medium-fast bends and that combination has allowed it to be quick now on three very different types of circuit.

Hamilton’s pole was the product of a brilliant lap around a circuit in which he has always shone, his ninth pole at this venue setting a new record for any driver at a single venue (it was a weekend for records). That and an improving W14 Mercedes – and a bit of a racy choice made by the team on bodywork cooling. This was worth more than a tenth of a second over a single lap of qualifying, but meant Hamilton had to run the power unit very conservatively in the 28C ambient of race day.

But that’s not why he lost the chance of finishing second. That all happened within seconds of the start. He made a decent enough getaway but Verstappen’s was better, enabling the Red Bull driver to get down the Merc’s inside into Turn 1, ahead and never to be seen by the others again until the collecting area. Hamilton, in trying to sit it out around the outside of Verstappen through that first turn, made himself vulnerable to the McLarens, with Piastri darting past immediately and Norris following up with a bold around-the-outside manoeuvre at Turn 2. “I was surprised he didn’t force me out wide actually,” said Norris. But it was the making of his race.

Hamilton, asking why his engine seemed down on power, was unable to launch any challenge to the McLarens on track, but was close enough to try an undercut attempt on Norris as the pit stop window opened. McLaren had to prioritise Norris by pitting him immediately afterwards – and this had the effect of jumping him past Piastri. Hamilton remained fourth, now with a long stint ahead of him, while Norris left Piastri far behind. The rookie was afterwards critical of himself for not looking after the tyres and suffering much more degradation in the second stint than his team mate. Hamilton, in trying to bring his new tyres in gently after his stop, ended up losing a big chunk of time to the McLarens in the process.

As the second stops approached Hamilton was being caught quickly by Perez, who pitted from right behind. Hamilton stayed out for a further seven laps and was well behind the Red Bull after stopping. Hamilton was able to pass Piastri – who had taken some floor damage from riding a kerb while trying to defend from Perez – with DRS into Turn 1 to take P4.

Norris couldn’t ask too much of his tyres as Perez was closing him down fast towards the end. But he couldn’t afford to hang around either. He hit that balance perfectly in what was a high-stress conclusion to his race. The maiden victory is surely not too far away. “Maybe,” he replied. “If Max retires or something…”