Our website use cookies to improve and personalize your experience and to display advertisements (if any). Our website may also include cookies from third parties like Google Adsense, Google Analytics, and Youtube. By using the website, you consent to the use of cookies.

Ocon claws to maiden win

BOITUMELO RANTAO 

FRENCH driver Esteban Ocon survived a wet, frantic start to the Hungarian Grand Prix to shockingly win his first Formula One race.

The Alpine Racing driver, who signed a contract extension with Alpine for the foreseeable future, held off former World Champion Sebastian Vettel to take the chequered flag for the first time. 

Lewis Hamilton led the GP after a great start from the front of the grid.  Hamilton’s teammate Valterri Bottas was not as fortunate – swamped by cars left and right – the Finn lost grip towards the first corner – colliding with the rear of McLaren driver Lando Norris. 

Advertisements

The collision cascaded to the Red Bull’s on the outside as Norris made contact with Max Verstappen and Bottas smashed into Sergio Perez. The race was subsequently red flagged.

Hamilton was the only driver to line up on the grid after the restart – as the track dried up significantly – whilst all other drivers returned to the pit lane after the warm up lap to fit dry tyres. The Briton had hoped the track would still be wet after the rain at the start, but the ball dropped as Hamilton had to pit after one lap. 

Ocon emerged as the race leader after Hamilton entered the pit lane – followed closely by Vettel’s green Aston Martin. Carlos Sainz, Yuki Tsunoda, Nicholas Latifi, Fernando Alonso, George Russell, Kimi Raikonnen, and Mick Schumacher.

READ:  Important for F1 to show its values, says Hamilton

Pierre Gasly, narrowly avoiding the carnage at turn one, was trailed by Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Nikita Mazepin, Lando Norris and Antonio Giovinazzi. 

On lap 20 Hamilton made his move and pitted for hard tyres and – with the benefit of clean air – began to make his way past Verstappen and Ricciardo. At this point, Ocon and Vettel had increased their gap to third place Latifi to 12 seconds.

Latifi entered the pit lane on lap 22, unleashing the trailing Sainz and Alonso to pick up the pace. 

Vettel would pit on lap 36, and the slow stop from the Aston Martin team would later prove decisive. The german provided a scintillating out lap covering the distance lost to Ocon. As Ocon entered the pit lane one lap later he emerged in first by a whisker heading into turn 1.

Alonso pitted on lap 39 and returned in 5th place – behind Hamilton. Hamilton opted to pit for fresher medium tyres on his Mercedes to make a late charge for the race win. His plans would be derailed by Alonso as the Spaniard produced a defensive masterclass to hold Hamilton’s fierce Mercedes for just under 10 laps until the Silver Arrow broke free on lap 64.

Hamilton wasted no time passing Sainz Ferrari shortly after and began hunting Vettel’s Aston Martin. Hamilton would finish in third behind Vettel at the chequered flag.

READ:  Bottas takes pole at Eifel Grand Prix

Ocon held off Vettel for an astonishing 33 laps, with the German going in and out of DRS range throughout the contest, standing atop the podium for the first time. 

Vettel would later be disqualified from the race as his Aston Martin had below the allowed fuel level at the end of the race – elevating Hamilton into second at the Hungarian GP. 

Advertisements

Alonso, also voted Driver of the Day, finished in 4th ahead of AlphaTauri pair Gasly and Tsunoda. Gasly was also awarded fastest lap and an extra point after a late stop. 

Williams’ pair Russell and Latifi earned the teams first double points finish since Italy 2018. The 8th place finish was also Russell’s first points finish of his F1 career.

Hamilton is now 8-points ahead of Verstappen in the world championship standings –  as Verstappen was promoted to 9th. Sainz earned his fourth career podium after Vettel’s disqualification.  

Vettel concluded the race matching his best finish, second in Azerbaijan, of the 2021 season. The Aston Martin driver was evidently disqualified for not having the required minimal fuel sample (1.44L) at the end of the race. Aston Martin has appealed against the ruling.

Advertisements
By The African Mirror

MORE FROM THIS SECTION