Share

August 04, 2019Strategic masterpiece by Lewis Hamilton who triumphs in Hungary crowning, with three laps to go, a long chase at Max Verstappen's Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel completes the podium, passing his Ferrari Leclerc teammate using a similar strategy to Hamilton. Excellent 5th place for Norris, ahead of Gasly (always not very effective on Red Bull). Settimo Raikkonen, then Bottas and Norris, decimates the Red Bull of Albon.

Difficult start for Bottas, who suffered Hamilton's attack immediately. The two of the Mercedes touch each other after the second corner, the Brit passes and the Ferraris also take advantage of it. The Finn, in fact, damaged the front wing and stopped (with a few too many hesitations) in the pits starting in the queue. In front is the poleman Verstappen to make the rhythm. Leclerc and Vettel resist a few passes, then they inevitably lose ground. In the 5th and 6th place (well detached) the McLarens of Sainz and Norris are installed.

On lap 26, Verstappen was the first to change tires (he had already informed the wall of a loss of grip for several minutes). Strategy confirmed for the top teams that go on hard tires. Leclerc returns on lap 28, Hamilton resists up to 32nd and strategy does not pay: net of parking, those too many laps cost him 3 "-4".

But the Brit returns to the track unleashed and cancels the gap of almost 6 "in a few laps in record laps in just a few steps. And it was immediately an exciting battle, with the world champion in charge going to the assault and also giving himself some off-piste. (40th lap), Vettel makes his stop and surprises everyone with the soft. He returns to 4th place, well detached from Leclerc.

The fight in the head breaks on lap 49, when Hamilton surprisingly returns to the pits and mounts the averages. The Brit bets on the Verstappen stop or on a comeback of over a second per lap. The second eventuality occurs, the coupling occurs five laps from the finish line and a fight begins again which, this time lasts a few turns. Hamilton goes into the first corner on lap 67. Verstappen stops at the next pass and mounts the 'reds' to do the best lap (which arrives at the penultimate round). Meanwhile, a bet also won by Vettel, who hangs up Leclerc a few kilometers from the finish and passes it (with some risk too). Ferrari, however, very far, more than a minute from the head.

In the standings further shot by Hamilton now at 255 points. Follows Bottas at 188, then Verstappen at 181. Vettel is at 156, Leclerc at 132.