Max Verstappen has achieved a spectacular victory in the Hungariam GP F1 2022. Despite starting from tenth position, the Dutch driver has made a great comeback to seal his twenty-eight victory in Formula 1. Scuderia Ferrari has had it within reach of the hand, but the strategy has been wrong again. Double podium for Mercedes and eight position for Fernando Alonso.
The race has started in complicated conditions and with a variety of strategies in the noble zone. George Russell controlled the opening laps on soft tyres, but Charles Leclerc, after stretching his first stop a lot, would go on to lead the race on lap 31 with a nice maneuver on British driver. At that moment, Scuderia Ferrari seemed to have victory in their hands.
However, from red Bull they have plated the strategy card and, betting on the medium tire in the last “stint” instead of a hard compound that has not worked for other teams –such as Alpine-, they have allowed Max Verstappen to reach relatively easily to Charles Leclerc. Spin included in their battle on the track, Max would have to pass Charles twice to get this victory.
A victory that means giving a good blow to the championship, since the Mercedes have gone really well and have certified a double podium, with Lewis Hamilton in second place and George Russell in third. Carlos Sainz, after two bad stops in the pits, finished in fourth position, ahead of Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc.
As for the middle group, Lando Norris was the clear leader in seventh position, while Fernando Alonso, after a complicated race with traffic and a controversial corner with Esteban Ocon, was eight. Esteban Ocon, after enduring the onslaught of Sebastian Vettel in the final stages, has secured ninth place.
Thirteenth date of the season. In the Hungaroring circuit that, a priori, seemed favourable to Ferrari, George Russell pulled a stratospheric lap out of his hat to achieve his first pole in Formula 1. An interesting race was presented today, with the unknown of the weather and in which Pirelli Motorsport predicted a variety of strategies. The asphalt, considerably dry for the start of the race.
The start has been very clean in the front area despite the lack of grip on the asphalt. George Russell, with soft tires, has held the first position, ahead of Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. Behind, the Alpines have fought hard and have given wings to Lewis Hamilton to climb to fifth place; on the other hand, Max Verstappen has climbed to eight place, behind Alonso and with Checo Perez in ninth place. Red Bull made a really good GP. However, Mercedes and Ferrari didn´t do as well as they can.
Jorge Barbero
