Max Verstappen outshone Lewis Hamilton at the start of the 2023 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix, quickly taking the lead from pole position holder Hamilton. Hamilton’s troubles continued as he lost positions to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at Turn 1 and Turn 2 respectively. The race saw Norris making a bold move to overtake Piastri during the first round of pitstops and secure second place.
Despite a strong drive from Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull, Norris held on to the runner-up position, with Perez settling for third. Verstappen dominated the race, building a significant lead over Piastri. Perez made progress, overtaking Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and gaining an advantage early on.
The initial chaos of the race was caused by Zhou Guanyu, whose poor start resulted in a collision with Daniel Ricciardo’s AlphaTauri, causing further damage to Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly’s Alpines. Ocon and Gasly were both forced to retire, adding to Alpine’s run of double DNFs.
Verstappen extended his lead until lap 24 when he finally made his pit stop, opting for the longest stint on medium tires among the front-runners. Perez and the Ferraris of Hamilton and Charles Leclerc followed suit, with Hamilton and Russell employing alternate strategies.
Perez showcased his aggression, overtaking Carlos Sainz at Turn 1 and Russell at Turn 2. He soon closed the gap to Hamilton but struggled to overtake him. Red Bull employed strategy, using the undercut to get Perez ahead of Hamilton. Piastri suffered a slow pit stop and lost second place to his teammate Norris.
Norris made his final stop on lap 45 and came out with a comfortable lead over the battling Piastri and Perez. Perez managed to surpass Piastri at Turns 1 and 2 and set his sights on Norris, who maintained his position despite dealing with backmarkers.
In the end, Verstappen claimed his seventh victory of the season, finishing 33 seconds ahead of Norris in second place. Perez secured a solid third-place finish, while Hamilton overtook Piastri for fourth. Leclerc received a penalty for speeding in the pits during his final stop, allowing George Russell to move up to sixth place from 18th on the grid. The Aston Martins of Alonso and Stroll also scored points, following the Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz.
Verstappen’s win earned him an extra point for the fastest lap, solidifying his dominance in the championship. The Hungarian Grand Prix showcased the intense competition between Verstappen and Hamilton, setting the stage for an exhilarating remainder of the season.
