Amid shock news of Daniel Ricciardo’s return to racing, the Formula One world championship arrives in Budapest, the scene of one of the Aussie’s most famous victories in 2014. Tune in on The Roar from 11pm (AEST) for live blog updates and lap-by-lap coverage of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The race this time round isn’t going to see the 34-year old in contention for a win in what is the slowest car on the grid, but there will be desire for a points finish in what is traditionally an attritional race.
70 laps across the go-kart style 4.3km circuit offers little in the way of overtaking, with only the run to Turns 1 and 2 with DRS the real opportunity. The challenge therefore lies in consistency, keeping a cool head and strategy.
Keeping a cool head will be key, with high temperatures expected for race day – which will also be a challenge for tyre management, with a two-stop race the predicted strategy option for most.
Silverstone saw McLaren vault into contention as best of the rest behind Red Bull, with their colossal upgrade package and cool conditions propelling Lando Norris to a podium and rookie Oscar Piastri not too far behind.
Their practice pace from Friday indicated they’re in the mix again, but with the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari much closer. Red Bull, despite their truncated running thanks to Sergio Perez’s early FP1 crash remain the benchmark.
Much like McLaren’s Silverstone shock, Mercedes wowed with Lewis Hamilton, claiming an eighth pole at the Hungaroring and his first since Saudi Arabia in 2021. The seven-time world champion pipped Max Verstappen by a miniscule 0.003-seconds.
A contrasting tale for Mercedes teammate George Russell, who was eliminated in Q1 and will likely struggle from eighteenth on the grid. Both McLarens again occupy the second row, but in warmer conditions it’ll be intriguing to see how they fare.
Another standout in qualifying was Guanyu Zhou in fifth, heading both Alfa Romeos who made it into the top ten – ahead of their engine suppliers crucially in Ferrari. Points finishes could be on if they play their cards right with their constructor’s championship rivals outside the top ten.
It’s been a hot minute since Hamilton’s lead a front-row with Verstappen, so can the Briton challenge the reigning world champion? It’s a difficult ask considering how quick that Red Bull is still.
Lights out: 11pm (AEST)
Venue: Hungaroring, Budapest
TV: Fox Sports
Streaming: Kayo Sports
Grid
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 3. Lando Norris (McLaren), 4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren), 5. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo), 6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 7. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), 8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), 9. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 10. Nico Hülkenberg (Haas), 11. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 12. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 13. Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri), 14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 15. Pierre Gasly (Alpine), 16. Alexander Albon (Williams), 17. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), 18. George Russell (Mercedes), 19. Kevin Magnussen (Haas), 20. Logan Sargeant (Williams)
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Another record breaking race for Red Bull, but also great work from Mercedes and McLaren as well for being in podium contention. One more race before the mid-season break then, coming up in less than seven-days time at Spa-Francorchamps. Until then, thank you as always for tuning in and catch you next time.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 281 - Max Verstappen 171 - Sergio Perez 139 - Fernando Alonso 133 - Lewis Hamilton 90 -- George Russell 87 -- Carlos Sainz 80 -- Charles Leclerc 60 -- Lando Norris 45 -- Lance Stroll 31 -- Esteban Ocon 27 -- Oscar Piastri 16 -- Pierre Gasly 11 -- Alexander Albon 9 --- Nico Hülkenberg 5 --- Valtteri Bottas 4 --- Zhou Guanyu 2 --- Yuki Tsunoda 2 --- Kevin Magnussen 0 --- Logan Sargeant 0 --- Nyck De Vries 0 --- Daniel Ricciardo
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 452 - Red Bull Racing 223 - Mercedes AMG 184 - Aston Martin Racing 167 - Ferrari 87 -- McLaren Mercedes 47 -- Alpine 11 -- Williams Mercedes 11 -- Haas Ferrari 9 --- Alfa Romeo Racing 2 --- Scuderia AlphaTauri
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RACE REPORT It was another record breaking race for Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, as the reigning world champion claimed a seventh successive win of the season and team surpassing eleven consecutive wins set by a dominant McLaren in 1988. A mighty 33-second gap separated Verstappen from McLaren’s Lando Norris at the chequered flag, as the Dutchman commanded the Hungarian Grand Prix after starting second. Pole sitter Lewis Hamilton was usurped by Verstappen, despite being on the gripper side of the track going into Turn 1. Hamilton ended up dropping to fourth, with Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri from fourth vaulting into second. The early pace of the McLarens on the medium tyres was strong, by comparison to Hamilton in the sole top-ten running Mercedes at the time. His teammate George Russell was eighteenth. First corner drama ensued, as a poor start from Zhou Guanyu after a career best qualifying saw him collect Yuki Tsunoda, as well as the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly also finding each other. In successive races, Alpine found themselves with a double DNF. The race settled into a game of chess, with two-stop strategies the preferred method to navigate the 70-lap race. The likes of Sergio Perez from eighth, who started the race on hards ended up benefitting in the opening stint. Hamilton was the first of the leaders to pit on Lap 17, with Norris the next in to cover off his compatriot – despite Piastri being the lead McLaren. The Aussie rookie was in on Lap 19 and had the faster stop by comparison to Norris, but a stellar out-lap saw the Brit jump ahead. Lap 24 saw the race leader in for his change of tyres, leaving Perez and Russell the only drivers yet to pit after starting on hards. The Mexican was buoyed by mediums in the middle stint, picking off the lacklustre Ferraris and challenging Hamilton and Piastri. With the race descending into tyre conservation mode, it wasn’t until Lap 43 when Piastri triggered the second round of stops for the leaders. Perez also took the opportunity to pit in a bid to undercut Hamilton. Norris was in on Lap 45, while the Red Bull passed Piastri for fourth. Hamilton after his stop on Lap 50 was able to round up Piastri too, while Perez set after Norris. In the end, backmarkers hampered Checo’s run – opening him up to the threat of the Mercedes. Though holding onto third and earning a welcome return to the podium after recent underperformances, Perez earnt the Driver of the Day accolade as well. Russell in the end had the pace on mediums in the final stint to beat both Ferraris, while Charles Leclerc had a 5-second penalty added to his time for speeding in the pit-lane. He was hampered too by a poor stop, while Carlos Sainz impressive start on the softs faded into nothing in eighth. The Aston Martins rounded out the points, with neither Fernando Alonso or Lance Stroll having an answer to rivals such as McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari who finished ahead. Daniel Ricciardo’s return to Formula One, almost went sour at the start when he was caught up in the opening lap melee. Though an impressive stint in clean air on the medium tyres brought him back to thirteenth from the rear.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
STANDBY FOR RACE REPORT & UPDATED STANDINGS
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
POST-RACE INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Nico Rosberg VERSTAPPEN - "Finally we had a really good start." "I knew when I had the inside, the corner was mine." "Today the car was really quick and good on any tyres." NORRIS - "Tough race, not an easy one with Checo catching me." "The guys [Red Bull] are too quick." "Our time will come later in the year." "I'm happy we finally proved some people wrong." PEREZ - "Unfortunately we got caught with a lot of backmarkers, I lost a few seconds." "Overall a great effort by the team, I just look forward to be on the podium every weekend."
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RESULTS FROM THE 70-LAP HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 1 M. Verstappen 2 L. Norris 3 S. Perez 4 L. Hamilton 5 O. Piastri 6 G. Russell 7 C. Leclerc* 8 C. Sainz 9 F. Alonso 10 L. Stroll 11 A. Albon 12 V. Bottas 13 D. Ricciardo 14 N. Hülkenberg 15 Y. Tsunoda 16 G. Zhou 17 K. Magnussen RET L. Sargeant RET E. Ocon RET P. Gasly 5-second time penalty for Charles Leclerc applied
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX! A 44th career win for the Dutchman, seventh consecutive and eleventh for Red Bull in a single season to equal the 1988 record of McLaren. Lando Norris makes it consecutive podiums for the first time in his career in second. And a return to the podium for Sergio Perez with a mighty drive from ninth to third.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 70/70: FINAL LAP
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 69/70: Brief yellow flags in Sector 2 at the chicane for Logan Sargeant. Sounds like he is out of the race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 68/70: Hamilton can see Perez now on track.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 67/70: Hamilton is 2.4-second behind Perez, giving some feint hope for the Mercedes driver to finish on the podium. Meanwhile Russell is within 5 seconds of Leclerc, which means that penalty should drop the Ferrari behind the Mercedes.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Yeah, he was being questioned by the commentary for pitting again only after 11 laps but that's the benefit of fresh air and younger tyres.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 66/70: Perez has lost time to Norris with the gap out to 5-seconds now. Perhaps just what Lando needs to just stay ahead in second.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 65/70: Sainz on his 20-lap old tyres has had to yield to Russell, who now splits the Ferraris and if he can get within 5-seconds of Leclerc - he'll jump into sixth.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 64/70: Perez coming acropper with backmarkers getting in his way. This gives a little reprieve to Norris then.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 63/70: Hamilton is slowly chipping away at Perez as well, with 6-seconds between the third and fourth placed drivers.
Damo
Roar Rookie
Looks like Dany Ric has done a great job on those mediums to jump 5 drivers back to 13th
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 62/70: Leclerc still has that 5-second penalty to be added to his time after the race and at the moment, he has enough of a margin over teammate Sainz to nullify that penalty.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 61/70: Norris getting frustrated with Tsunoda, who was shown the blue flags to be lapped and hadn't gotten out of the way in a hurry. Perez now 3.6-seconds behind.