2024-07-21 14:45:38
Max Verstappen swore at his own team on the radio in a manner suitable for children, and at the crowning end of his troubled journey in Hungary he had a near-crash. The three-time Formula 1 world champion suffered another setback in the Zoff race in Hungary and was unable to win a third race in a row in the Red Bull. He did not even make it to the podium after what he considered to be a disastrous strategy, but also a mistake of his own. He came fifth.
Instead, Oscar Piastri celebrated his first Grand Prix victory when stable rival Lando Norris allowed him to overtake shortly before the end after repeated reminders and warnings from McLaren’s leading position. Norris had previously benefited from a team decision that clearly put Piastri at a disadvantage. Just like Red Bull, McLaren will also have a difficult consequence from this race.
Verstappen attacks immediately
Silverstone winner Lewis Hamilton finished third in a Mercedes ahead of Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari. Verstappen, who lost eight points in the standings before his almost home race in Spa-Francorchamps next weekend, but still has 76 more than Norris. Nico Hülkenberg finished 13th in the Haas.
Verstappen would not have many opportunities on the course to overtake at least one or even both McLarens after qualifying third behind Norris and Piastri. Ideally at the beginning. So Verstappen attacked immediately when the red lights went out. Norris tried to defend his third career pole against teammate Piastri and pushed to the inside, where the Australian only had the wall track to his right. The accelerator pedal, which had caused problems on the warm-up lap, worked perfectly for Norris.
Verstappen wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and attacked the double pack in papaya orange. The three went into the first corner almost level and it was tight. Piastri inside, Norris in the middle, Verstappen outside. And the Dutchman had to make a turn, he left the track, he came back behind Piastri but in front of Russell.
Now began the longing and the great accusation. Norris complained that Verstappen had gained an advantage. Verstappen was cooking in the pit – and it wasn’t because of the almost 30 degrees in Budapest. His team ordered him to let Norris pass again to avoid a penalty. “Okay, so you can push people off the track,” Verstappen replied.
The investigation, initiated by the race stewards immediately after the maneuver, was terminated after a few 100 meters. There will probably be a consequence. As memories were awakened of the duel between Verstappen and Norris in Spielberg, when the cars touched, Norris retired and Verstappen saved fifth place.
Norris apologized at the time and seriously questioned the friendship between the two – before wanting to hear much about his claims a few days later. And Verstappen’s friendship was also more important.
“Don’t walk on one leg”
The classification in the penultimate race before the summer break has now been confirmed. Piastri, who finished second in Austria, was ahead of Norris, Verstappen and Hamilton. Farther back, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Pérez was trying to limit the damage.
After a crash in qualifying, he had to start from 16th place. “We can’t walk on one leg,” the chief executive of the team Christian Horner emphasized to Hungary. In the end, Pérez finished seventh.
But even for Verstappen, the weekend with more than 300,000 spectators did not go as expected despite the innovations on the RB 20. During the race he also complained about the brakes, but shortly afterwards laid it was the fastest lap. Hamilton, meanwhile, turned the pressure on two weeks after returning to the top podium with his 104th career win. After the first tire change, the seven-time champion was behind Piastri and Norris and in front of Verstappen.
With nine poles and eight wins, Hamilton is the specialist in Hungary. But he couldn’t get Piastri and Norris either. Instead, Verstappen suddenly regained his strength and was behind Hamilton after just over half the race distance before he and Leclerc made their second tire change in the Ferrari – making Verstappen’s bad mood even worse. worse still.
Race engineer against Verstappen
McLaren fared better – at least in stages and from the perspective of Norris alone, who benefited from the second tire change earlier. Usually, the better placed driver is introduced first. In this case not, they will manage the situation, McLaren radioed Piastri. The most exciting question: Would Norris let Piastri overtake him back? The team strongly reminded them of Sunday’s meeting and eventually let him pass.
And that’s even though Verstappen came out with his tail after maneuvering against Hamilton and losing more points. Piastri was delighted with his first victory after the tactical chaos. At Red Bull, the race engineer told back to the angry Verstappen: “You are childish.”
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