Five Formula 1 Winners & Losers: Hungarian Grand Prix
Photo from Getty Images
After a fantastic qualifying session, it felt like Sunday would be a great race.
And it wasn’t a bad one, but a rough start by our pole sitter meant it was over right when it started.
But with all that being said, here’s the winners and losers from the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Losers
5. Charles Leclerc
The car is slower than it should be. The pit crew is slow. Charles sped on pit road.
Ferrari just can not get out of their own way.
4. Nico Hulkenberg
It must really, really stink to have great qualifying sessions and then terrible races, simply because the car can not handle long runs.
It’s been an issue for Haas for years now, and it’s costing them huge points.
3. Kevin Magnussen
But at least Hulkenberg is missing points because the race pace is bad, and not because of poor qualifying.
Magnussen has been torched by his teammate Nico Hulkenberg this year, and with it being a contract year for him and not many available seats, you have to wonder what the future holds if he doesn’t pick up the pace.
2. Alpine
Alpine’s British Grand Prix was one to forget, as both drivers had to retire the car.
They surely hoped Hungary would be better for them.
They made it one corner before Ocon’s car was rear ended directly into Gasly’s forcing both drivers to retire again.
They didn’t even make it one single corner.
But hey, it wasn’t their fault.
1. Zhou Guanyu
It was Zhou Guanyu’s, who really had just a horrible Sunday.
Saturday saw him put his Alfa Romeo in 5th to start the race, his best ever qualifying performance.
His Sunday started with his car not moving off the line, smashing into Ricciardo who hit the Alpine’s, and ending up finishing 16th.
Although, I guess it is better than the last time he had a career high qualifying…
Winners
5. Daniel Ricciardo
It wasn’t points, but it was a Q2 appearance and a recovery drive after early damage to finish 13th.
And considering he hasn’t sat in an F1 car for half a season and is in the slowest car on the grid, that’s pretty damn good for the Honey Badger.
It’s good to have him back.
4. McLaren
Is McLaren officially back?
Since they brought their new upgrades they’ve raced at a power track in Austria, a high speed corner track in Britain, and a low speed corner track in Hungary.
Lando has done extremely well at all 3 tracks, while Piastri has been excellent at Britain and Hungary.
Right now, it really feels like McLaren has the 2nd best car on the grid.
And considering what they were to start the year, that’s incredible.
3. George Russell
Unfortunate timing during qualifying meant Russell started 18th at a track that is difficult to overtake.
Despite that, he ended up finishing 6th and getting a good haul of points.
Not too shabby…
2. Lewis Hamilton
Saturday showed that Lewis Hamilton, despite his older age for Formula 1, still has it.
He didn’t get a podium, which I’m sure is annoying to him, but his pace shows that once (if) Mercedes gets their car figured out, he’ll once again be fighting for wins.
Or if he takes the 2nd Red Bull seat, which will never happen.
But just imagine.
It’s glorious.
1. Sergio Perez
Checo’s recent performances have been, well, let’s just say underwhelming.
Now Daniel Ricciardo, a former and beloved Red Bull driver, is back on the grid, and Checo followed that news by crashing in 1st practice and qualifying 9th in clearly the fastest car.
But Sunday’s performance showed grit and tenacity, and it got him a podium and a very happy boss in Christian Horner.
He needs to string along a few more of those performances, but it’s still good to see him bounce back like that.
