Lewis Hamilton provides a masterclass in driving during the Hungarian Grand Prix ...
There has been much talk about the "changing of the guard" with an array of fresh young drivers lining up behind Hamilton to take his F1 crown. But Hamilton showed on Sunday that he is not willing or will not give this up easily.
Starting the race from P3, behind teammate Bottas and pole-sitter Verstappen, Hamilton proved exactly why he is five times world champion. The young Red Bull driver leaped of the line leaving Bottas & Hamilton to duel it out into the first corner with Hamilton ultimately winning the hunt was on.
By lap 25 Verstappen looked to have tied everything up with fresh tires he seemed set to claim his first pole win from pole position following a faultless display but Hamilton was having none of it. Pitting on lap 31 Hamilton twice ran wide off the track whilst trying to overtake Verstappen before an unexpected second pit-stop on lap 48 saw Hamilton drop back 21 seconds behind the your Dutch driver.
With just 21 laps to go Hamilton was set an almightly task of gaining a second+ per lap to catch and overtake Verstappen. But the fired-up Briton reeled the Red Bull car in and with just four laps remaining and Verstappen's tires spent Mercedes'passed the Redbull securing Hamilton his 81st win of his career and strengthening his hold on the title race even further going into the summer break.
After the race a tired and what seemed emotional Hamilton said "We've been together for seven years, but this feeling never gets old. If it wasn't for everyone here and back at the factory, this wouldn't have been possible. I'm so grateful to be a part of it and for the team for continuing to believe in me, push the limits and take a risk. We struggled a little with the brakes today, so I was trying to save as much as I could for when I had a chance to pass Max. It was very, very difficult to get by. I wasn't sure if I could close the 19-second gap, but the team said to just get your head down, so I did. I kept pushing, the gap closed and the laps were like Qualifying laps. I was on the limit all the way. I take my hat off to the team and I think if Niki were here today, he would take his hat off too."
Elsewhere in the race, Ferrari's Sebastain Vettel took P3 from Charles Leclerc who finished fourth with Carlos Sainz finishing an excellent fifth, his second in a row for McLaren, in front of the second Red Bull of Pierre Gasly.
Next Race: Sunday September 1st -SPA Belgium,
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