Red Bull secured the record for most consecutive wins in F1 as Max Verstappen took a commanding victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The championship leader made light work of his rivals to take the chequered flag by 33.7 seconds over McLaren’s Lando Norris to take a 12th win in a row for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Sergio Perez rose from ninth with a stunning drive which included a number of robust overtaking moves as polesitter Lewis Hamilton struggled for pace.
Much had been made about the potential for fireworks between Hamilton and Verstappen on the opening lap, but the Dutchman assumed the lead when taking the high ground down the inside of Turn 1.
Oscar Piastri made a stunning start and ducked and weaved past the duel in front, as well as teammate Norris, to take second on the road behind Verstappen.
Zhou Guanyu had taken a career-best fifth on the grid in qualifying but a nightmarish getaway left the Alfa Romeo plummeting down the order.
The Chinese driver got into the back of Daniel Ricciardo’s AlphaTauri, triggering a chain reaction that saw Esteban Ocon launch over teammate Pierre Gasly to give Alpine a second-successive double DNF – and Zhou a five-second penalty.
With tyre management the order of the day, the race settled down until the pit stop period, by which time Verstappen had earned himself a gap of just over seven seconds over Piastri.
Hamilton was the first of the top four to pit in the hope of triggering an undercut on Norris but was left perplexed when his deficit of under three seconds became nine seconds when the McLaren pitted a lap later.
The Mercedes continued to struggle for pace as Piastri slotted between the two Britons – the rookie unhappy with the Hard compound tyres.
Whilst Verstappen was in firm control at the front of the field, Perez was on a mission from ninth on the grid.
The Mexican had already given the hip-and-shoulder to Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Mercedes’ George Russell before closing up to Hamilton before making his second stop.
Hamilton extended his second stint, leaving Piastri as Perez’s next victim after the next round of pit stops. The Australian defended valiantly but was forced wide by the Red Bull on the exit of Turn 2 and left to fend off the Mercedes – on fresher tyres – for fourth.
It was ultimately a hill too far for Piastri, who was forced to settle for fifth as Hamilton swept past with ease on lap 57.
Verstappen secured the fastest lap on his final Medium tyre stint to earn the maximum 26 points, with Norris trailing in second.
Perez recovered well for a much-needed podium to alleviate some of the pressure that was building after recent poor form.
Hamilton and Piastri followed, with George Russell sixth and Ferrari seventh and eighth. Charles Leclerc finished ahead of Sainz, despite having to shrug off a 9.4-second stop and a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane at his second service – though the punishment gave the Mercedes an extra position.
More worryingly for the Scuderia, both drivers finished almost 50 seconds behind winner Verstappen.
Russell quietly rose through the field 18th on the grid to complete his damage limitation mission and ensure Mercedes finished with both cars ahead of Aston Martin in the battle for second in the Constructors’ standings.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll did follow Russell to secure a double-point finish for the Silverstone-based outfit in ninth and 10th.
Alex Albon finished 11th for Williams ahead of the luckless Valtteri Bottas, who was hampered in the Turn 1 meleé.
Daniel Ricciardo’s return to F1 finished where he started in 13th, having emerged from his first-corner contact unscathed.
Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg again slipped from the top 10 on race day to finish 14th, ahead AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda.
Zhou’s miserable afternoon ended in 16th, ahead of Kevin Magnussen who finished last of those left running as Logan Sargeant retired with a lap left.
