Max Verstappen added yet another point to his championship lead with the fastest lap in a dominant win of the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.
It was a disappointing Saturday for Verstappen as he was outqualified by old rival Lewis Hamilton by just 0.003s – the first time he’s started off pole position since the Miami GP.
However, he made short work of the Mercedes at the race start, as Hamilton got a poor getaway, allowing Verstappen to draw level with him up the inside and take the lead at the first corner.
From there, Verstappen streaked away from the field, and he was the last driver to take his second pitstop, coming in on lap 52 and immediately setting the fastest lap that no one was able to challenge.
His time of 1:20.504 wasn’t as quick as the lap record, held by Hamilton from 2020, but the Dutchman’s pace was more than enough for the rest of the field.
It means Red Bull break the record for the most consecutive race wins – they entered the weekend tied with McLaren from the 1988 season on 11, and Verstappen‘s win margin of 33 seconds gives the impression that streak will rampage on.
Driver of the Day
Sergio Perez holds two of those wins, and he was crowned Driver of the Day by Formula 1 fans for his drive from third to ninth.
Hamilton‘s pole already meant Verstappen was denied his fourth career grand slam in F1, but he also missed out on this accolade to his teammate.
Perez managed a solid recovery drive though in by far the fastest car on the grid, he’ll have been slightly disappointed not to make it a 1-2.
Verstappen won the 2022 Hungarian GP from tenth on the grid, so the Dutchman still manages to get the last laugh somehow.
