Formula 1 - Red-Bull-Feud with "childish" Verstappen - Piastri-Premiere
Max Verstappen had to endure additional anger towards the race stewards after his wild ride at the Hungaroring, following his third consecutive race without winning for Red Bull and failing to even make it onto the podium as a fifth-place finisher.
"The strategy today was very poor," complained Verstappen to the stewards before leaving, and he even went so far as to say, "We all messed up." Fortunately for Verstappen, he escaped a post-race penalty, as the stewards announced after their review.
"We couldn't overtake"
Despite the frustration of the 26-year-old Dutchman, this didn't change anything. "We have to move on," said Red Bull's motor racing advisor Helmut Marko. "We couldn't overtake, and the strategy we chose was completely wrong." However, Verstappen was not entirely blameless: Just before the end, he attempted a maneuver against Lewis Hamilton that saw his Red Bull lift off the ground and cost him positions and points.
Instead, Oscar Piastri celebrated his first Grand Prix victory. The 23-year-old Australian passed his stablemate Lando Norris just before the finish, after being ordered to do so by the McLaren command post. Norris had earlier benefited from a team decision that clearly disadvantaged Piastri.
"The team asked me to do it. So I did," said Norris, whose face froze when asked about the matter. Before that, he had been in a lively conversation with former world champion and interviewer Nico Rosberg about the team's great day.
Hamilton also made it back onto the podium
Personally, it was a tough day for the Briton, who had caught up to eight points on Verstappen with his second win of his career instead of second place at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Dutchman still leads with 76 points.
Third place went to Hamilton in a race that was particularly entertaining due to the team radio. The 104-time Grand Prix winner had kind words for the rookie winner. "He did a great job. It was just a matter of time before he won," said Hamilton. "This is the day I dreamed of as a child," said Piastri himself.
Noteworthy is that seven different drivers have won in the 13 races of the season so far. Piastri's victory over his teammate is also evidence that McLaren currently has the fastest car. "We have to keep working hard and can't afford to make the slightest mistake, or we'll be second," warned Marko.
Verstappen's attempt to overtake both McLarens ahead of him at the start ended in the first major clash. He had driven outside in the first turn, but had to leave the track. Behind Piastri, but ahead of Norris, Verstappen rejoined the race, and the team urged him to overtake Norris again to avoid a penalty. "Okay, I guess you can just push people off the track," Verstappen retorted.
The order before the penultimate race before the summer break was now set. Piastri, who finished second in Austria, led Norris, Verstappen, and Hamilton. Far behind was Verstappen's teammate Sergio Pérez, who was focusing on damage control.
After a crash in qualifying, he had to start from position 16, Hungary and Belgium might have their final trials in a week, he is at risk of losing his cockpit during the summer break with his Red Bull team.
Team principal Christian Horner commented significantly in Hungary, "We can't run on one leg." In the end, Perez finished seventh.
However, Verstappen's weekend did not go as hoped with over 300,000 spectators, despite the improvements on the RB 20. During the race, he continued to complain about the brakes and engaged in thrilling duels with Hamilton, two weeks after his return to the top step with his overall 104th career win.
A "complicated" debut win for Piastri
With nine poles and eight wins, Hamilton is the Hungaroring specialist. However, Verstappen was challenging him. Just before the end, the tires of the two cars touched as Verstappen tried to overtake Red Bull's Mercedes in the inside. The rear end lifted, Verstappen saved the car from hitting the track boundary, and then immediately started complaining again. His audibly frustrated race engineer responded, "You're childish."
There was also a need for discussion and icy silence at McLaren. Norris had benefited from an earlier tire change. Normally, the better-placed driver is lapped first. In this case, not so, McLaren informed Piastri that they would manage the situation. The result: Norris was repeatedly and directly instructed to let Piastri pass. "In the end, it was a bit complicated," said the rookie winner, who would have preferred to secure his first Grand Prix victory without such distractions.
- Despite Verstappen's frustration, the 'Fallen idol' of Red Bull managed to avoid a post-race penalty at GP Austria.
- The 'Auto' driven by Max Verstappen attempted a maneuver against Lewis Hamilton, resulting in a lift off the ground and lost positions.
- McLaren Group Limited's 'Formula-1' drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, had a significant impact on the race report.
- In Hungary, Lewis Hamilton managed to secure 2nd place, reducing Verstappen's lead to 76 points in the Formula One World Champion standings.
- Oscar Piastri celebrated his 'First Grand Prix victory' with an overtake against Lando Norris before the finish.
- Lando Norris, amidst the team order controversy, remained tight-lipped and praised the McLaren team's performance during the race.
- Mercedes-Benz driver Lewis Hamilton had kind words for the 'Rookie winner', Piastri, after his impressive debut victory.
- With seven different drivers winning in 13 races this season, McLaren currently boasts the 'Fastest car' in Formula 1.
- Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motor racing advisor, warned the team to 'Keep working hard' and avoid minor mistakes to maintain their position.
- Team principal Christian Horner expressed concerns for Sergio Pérez, whose performance in Hungary might be crucial in his fight to retain his cockpit during the summer break with Red Bull.
