While the winner in Budapest is Max Verstappen (25) again, one racing team is in real trouble: Alpine.
Both drivers crash each other out on the very first lap of the race. In principle, the team can pack up straight away and move on to Spa/Belgium, where they will be driving next weekend.
Esteban Ocon smashes into his French compatriot Pierre Gasly from the right after being pushed by Ricciardo, who in turn is crashed by Zhou Guanyu, even takes off briefly, landing a little on top of him – and leaving a gaping hole in his colleague’s car.
An Alpine in the air: Ocon over Gasly
Gasly comes to the pits immediately and has to park. A little later it is clear: Esteban Ocon cannot finish the race either.
Bitter for the French team, which many still know under its former name Renault: Pointless again. And in fifth place in the team classification, McLaren, who are really showing off, are far ahead. Two weeks ago at Silverstone, both Alpine drivers had to retire. After that, Alpine boss Laurent Rossi was fired. Nevertheless, the plague continued. Within two races, the fight for 5th place is almost over.
In the first corner, Max Verstappen passes pole setter Lewis Hamilton and grabs the lead
At the top everything is as usual: Max Verstappen also wins the Hungarian Grand Prix. For Verstappen it is the 44th victory of his career (like Hamilton’s starting number, by the way), the seventh in a row and the ninth of the season – in eleven races so far. That means: Red Bull is still the dominator and has not given up a race in 2023. The two non-Verstappen wins at the start of the season went to his colleague Sergio Pérez.
At the start of the race, however, a small peculiarity: Lewis Hamilton was back on pole for the first time since December 2021 – but loses the lead immediately after the start. Max Verstappen leads after curve 1. The two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris also pass Hamilton.