AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
A dominant Lewis Hamilton has won his second race of the season and equaled Formula One legend’s Michael Schumacher’s record of eight successive wins at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton, the defending champion, led from pole to finish and was never under threat from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished in second position, eight seconds behind Hamilton.
Hamilton, who surged ahead in the world championship standing, paid tribute to his car and the Mercedes technical team.
“Whilst I was on my own for the race it was a different kind of challenge. We had great pace but it couldn’t have been without these guys that were working. We did great pit stops, great strategy and right at the end there because I was managing those mediums. It was perfect to get on softs and get the fastest lap.
“I definitely feel round one [In Austria] was multiple different punches that I wasn’t perhaps ready for – but I refocused, which I do every race. I need to try and keep this up,” Hamilton said.
Verstappen, who had a horrid start to the race after a crash on the way to the grid, won the face’s vote for Driver of the Day after he went from seventh to finish ahead of a charging Valterri Bottas from Mercedes.
Racing Point’s Lance Stroll, who started in a credible third position on the grid, came home a distant fourth.
A late surge from Red Bull’s Alex Albon on the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel, rounded off Ferrari’s day to forget. Their new car could not match the pace of the Mercedes and Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel finished in the sixth position, with Charles Leclerc a distant 11th.
Albon finished fifth, although he faced a penalty after Red Bull were summoned to the stewards after the race for drying his grid spot ahead of the race start.
Racing Point’s Sergio Perez finished seventh while Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo crossed the line in eighth.
Team Haas’s tyre strategy on the day nearly paid off. Kevin Magnussen came home in the ninth position but Haas was denied its first two points of the season after Magnussen was penalised for using driver aids during the formation lap.
McLaren’s Carlos Sainz benefited from Magnussen’s penalty and was promoted to the 9th position. The Haas driver was relegated to the 10th position, earning a point for his team.
