Verstappen Expands Lead as Ferrari Struggles in Hungary

Max Verstappen doesn’t follow the usual rules of racing, not even when Ferrari is involved. In Hungary this weekend, Scuderia faced a double challenge, and the Red Bull driver faced a difficult qualifying session, starting tenth after an endurance issue hit his car in the third quarter on Saturday. Yet the Dutchman read the Hungaroring like a master, clinching victory number eight of the season. With nine races remaining after the summer break, Verstappen’s championship lead continues to widen, sitting at 80 points ahead of Leclerc.

Verstappen stood on the podium once more, flanked by Hamilton and Russell, mirroring the podium in France a week earlier. Carlos Sainz endured two very slow pit stops that cost him a chance at the podium, while Leclerc finished sixth, again criticized for Ferrari’s strategy. Fernando Alonso also faced a tougher race, with rain arriving only late and leaving him in eighth place, ahead of Ocon.

Russell Holds the Line

The race began under a looming threat of a storm, but slick tires were still in play at the start. Ferrari chose the medium compound, while Russell opted for the softer option to defend his pole position advantage. For Sainz and Leclerc, the message from Scuderia was clear: stay calm, stay out of trouble. Both started well, but the Mercedes driver managed to edge ahead and create some distance.

Meanwhile, Norris held fourth, Hamilton climbed two spots to fifth at the expense of Alpine, and Ocon challenged Alonso and the Red Bulls, who had undergone engine changes before the race and began their comeback from mid-pack.

After a poor start to the season, Verstappen and Perez began 10th and 11th respectively. They found themselves behind Hamilton within ten laps, as Verstappen launched a fierce attack on Norris. Hamilton resisted the initial surge, but Verstappen and Perez swept past the McLaren as if it were standing still.

Slow Save for Sainz

Russell’s soft tires began to show wear, and Leclerc urged Sainz to push to compensate for the Englishman’s advantage. Sainz stayed aggressive, trying to cover any potential Ferrari undercut with timely pit stops. He rejoined the track behind a Mercedes and an Ocon that slowed his progress.

Leclerc’s stop came a second faster than Sainz’s, allowing the Monégasque to reclaim a position, while Russell again led the race with Ferraris in pursuit. Verstappen had already surged into fourth, his pace approaching another decisive stage of the race.

Ocon and Alonso engaged in a tense exchange that Ricciardo capitalized on to move ahead. It was a poor afternoon for Alpine and McLaren in a season that has seen both teams fighting for fourth in the constructors’ standings.

A Relentless Chase

Leclerc pushed hard, tracing Russell’s every move. The Briton defended heroically in the DRS zones, but the pursuit continued beyond Turn 1 as the Monegasque closed in decisively.

At that moment, Sainz also pounced on Mercedes to hunt the long-awaited pairing within Scuderia. Yet Verstappen was on a clean path, already less than five seconds behind and just a second behind Carlos in pursuit.

Verstappen’s Strategy and Ferrari’s Misstep

Red Bull surprised with a strategic undercut on Sainz. A highly efficient pit stop at 2.4 seconds helped Verstappen gain the edge over Russell and forced Ferrari to react. The team chose a hard tire for Leclerc at Verstappen’s expense. The championship leader’s aggressive approach nearly backfired when he misjudged a turn on the straight, but Perez protected him and the car stayed in front, resuming the offensive with 25 laps to go.

Sainz remained ahead for the moment, waiting for a potential change in weather that could favor him. However, another costly pit stop for Sainz (4.6 seconds) weighed on Madrid’s driver. Ferrari’s tire selection in Leclerc’s pit worsened the situation, sealing a suboptimal outcome for the team. Sainz finished fourth and Leclerc sixth, even as Verstappen and the two Mercedes drivers gained ground and widened the gap to Russell in the championship standings.