Hungaroring (Hungary) (AFP)
We left them at Silverstone, one victorious, the other propelled into the wall after their spectacular collision: Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are struggling this time in Hungary, where the Briton is aiming for a 100th victory in F1.
For the last Grand Prix before the summer break, should we expect calm after the storm or a aftershock of the earthquake in Great Britain?
It is impossible to predict what this Hungarian GP will be like on the narrow Hungaroring circuit, but one thing is certain, the title race is still close, with eight small points separating Verstappen from his next Hamilton.
With his victory in front of his own, Hamilton (Mercedes) indeed inflicted a knockout on the leader Verstappen (Red Bull), who had to abandon in the first round after his violent exit.
And barring any new incident, Sunday's victory for the 11th round of the year will still be played between these two cadors of 36 and 23 years old.
But if the paddock is installed in a Hungaroring under heat wave, a few kilometers north of Budapest, spirits are still marked by Silverstone and the accident which propelled their duel to another sharper dimension.
- Verstappen resentful -
For Verstappen, who had accused his opponent of driving "dangerous" and celebrations "disrespectful and unsportsmanlike", the pill has not passed.
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"Disrespect is when one guy is in the hospital and the other waves the flag like nothing has happened as he slammed the other guy into the wall with an impact of 51 G, "said the Dutchman.
If physically all is well for Verstappen, who took part in a 24-hour esports simulator race himself driving half past eight, Silverstone clearly marked a turning point in his relationship with Hamilton.
"This is not how we celebrate this kind of victory, (...) I would never behave like this," he said, considering that this episode had "revealed how they (Mercedes) are really".
Hamilton continued to deny any faults, on or off the track: "I don't think our behavior was disrespectful. I saw him get out of his car, he looked good, and I wasn't aware of it. "of his visit to the hospital.
"It was my national Grand Prix, the emotion was so strong, it was a spontaneous celebration, nothing calculated, just an incredible feeling of joy, to have for this memorable moment all these supporters," he said. he continued.
"I called Max to check that he was okay and tell him that respect still marked our relationship. Obviously, it may not be reciprocal, but it does not matter," he said. concluded.
Verstappen said Hamilton's ten-second penalty at Silverstone was "not severe enough".
Red Bull has also presented an official request to reconsider this sanction, but it was rejected by the FIA Thursday evening, closing the case.
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Beyond the crash, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hailed an "encouraging weekend" in Great Britain for the Silver Arrows repainted in black.
"The small improvements made to the car have worked well and we have scored some big points."
- Hamilton power 100?
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Hamilton can mark the history of his sport even more this weekend, winning a 100th Grand Prix.
A record of course, which would be doubled by another: that of the greatest number of victories on the same circuit.
He has already won eight times here, like now at Silverstone, and like Michael Schumacher at Magny-Cours where the French GP was contested.
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Wolff nevertheless sees in the Hungarian track "a circuit which will undoubtedly please our adversaries more" Red Bull.
A stroke of bluff or a real opportunity for Red Bull to regain its domination?
The appointment is given, after practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday, for the start on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. on this circuit where it is difficult to overtake - in any case not without leaving a bit of the fin, or points at the road. championship.
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