sport news F1: Things we learned from the Hungarian GP with Lewis Hamilton being pushed to ...

sport news F1: Things we learned from the Hungarian GP with Lewis Hamilton being pushed to ...
sport news F1: Things we learned from the Hungarian GP with Lewis Hamilton being pushed to ...

Formula One fans were treated to a classic at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday when Esteban Ocon claimed his, as well as Alpine's, first victory following a chaotic race. 

The Frenchman took advantage of a wet start which led to chaos at the first corner due to Valtteri Bottas taking out McLaren's Lando Norris and consequentially both Red Bull drivers before holding off Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin to seal first place.

But there was drama throughout the field, with the title lead changing hands, drivers picking up their first points and even old veterans showing age is no factor. Here are the things we learned from the Hungarian Grand Prix. 

Esteban Ocon (holding the pit board) celebrates winning the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday

Esteban Ocon (holding the pit board) celebrates winning the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday

Hamilton being pushed all the way

Lewis Hamilton should have been pleased with his initial third place finish in Hungary, having battled back from last place following a strategy error before just missing out on victory after being crucially held up by Fernando Alonso in his pursuit for first.

With Vettel's fuel infringement bumping him up to second, it ensured he went into the summer break by taking the lead in the world championship by eight points from Mas Verstappen.  

But Hamilton looked drained post race and complained of dizziness and fatigue before revealing he has been suffering from Long Covid.

The seven-time world champion contracted Covid-19 late last season, causing him to miss the Sakhir Grand Prix. 

Such is the nature of one of the most closely fought title battles in recent years, Hamilton is being forced to scrap on the limit at each race and it appears that some of that effort is catching up with him, even if his extraordinary performances are still being pumped out and at the very least are masking his struggles.

The summer break will give him a chance to refresh in time for a 12-race slog to end the campaign, and it remains to be seen just how long the Brit can keep going all guns blazing.

Lewis Hamilton was left exhausted and dizzy following his podium finish at the Hungaroring

Lewis Hamilton was left exhausted and dizzy following his podium finish at the Hungaroring

F1 punishments need a rethink

Although the Hungarian Grand Prix stewards could only act within the rule book, the punishments that have been handed out recently raise questions whether they actually fit the crime.

Vettel was disqualified from second in Budapest due to his Aston Martin's inability to provide a one-litre sample after effectively running out of fuel post race. 

Considering neither Vettel nor the team were proven to have done anything wrong - a disqualification seems an incredibly harsh punishment. It assumes they are guilty of cheating before being proved innocent.

Vettel is not first to fall foul of this rule and while some form of punishment does seem fair for the breach, other penalties have seemed lenient in comparison.

For instance, Bottas was clearly at fault for triggering a multi-car pile up at the start of Hungarian Grand Prix, but his only punishment will be a five-place grid drop at the next race in Belgium. A rules rethink is needed.

Sebastian Vettel was disqualified after his Aston Martin car was unable to provide a satisfactory fuel sample following his second place finish

Sebastian Vettel was disqualified after his Aston Martin car was unable to provide a satisfactory fuel sample following his second place finish

Bottas was collateral damage to his own crash

Bottas's race was already over when he failed to judge braking into turn one and crashed into McLaren's Norris in the process.

In doing so he also ruined the races of many drivers around him including the Brit as well as Red Bull duo Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

His aforementioned grid drop at the next race for his error meant he didn't totally escape the incident with just a 'Did not finish', with his crash enabling Mercedes to pull out advantages in both world championships.

But the collateral damage to the Finn could extend further, with his future unclear at the team beyond this season. 

With no wins and constantly well off the pace of his team-mate Hamilton, Mercedes may feel they could have better options as a No 2 driver for the Brit, and one of them had an excellent result in Budapest... 

Valtteri Bottas's place at Mercedes is unclear beyond the end of the current campaign

Valtteri Bottas's place at Mercedes is unclear beyond the end of the current campaign

The Finn (left) triggered a multi-car pile up at the start of Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix

The Finn (left) triggered a multi-car pile up at the start of Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix

Russell finally meets Lady Luck

George Russell has had awful luck while driving for Williams, with poor reliability more often than not ruining his chances of picking up rare points for the team who before Sunday had only scored one point since the end of 2018.

Russell picked up his first points in F1 last season in a one-off drive for Mercedes with a ninth place finish - but even that came following a botched pit-stop out of his control and then a puncture which ultimately cost him victory in Sakhir.  

But his eighth place result ended his Williams drought on Sunday, a result that left him in tears, with Williams collecting 10 points overall following Nicholas Latifi's seventh place finish.

After the race he admitted

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT sport news See the very surprising four-word message Russell Crowe sent Jason Demetriou ... trends now