Verstappen won after another Ferrari disaster in Hungary

They say that the great champions are the ones who make no mistakes in the important moments. Max Verstappen and Red Bull They are the clear example. Ferrari is, but from the opposite point of view. This is the reading that remains after what happened in Budapest. The Dutchman gave a recital this Sunday and won the Hungarian Grand Prix over Russell (2nd) and Lewis Hamilton (3rd). Unbelievable but true. Not even a Ferrari set foot on the podium. Not one! The current champion started in 10th and made a world blow to Leclerc and the Italians, the almost certain hit, straight to the heart, even spinning.

F1 HUNGARY GP 2022 RESULTS AND FINAL CLASSIFICATION

He did it in the most painful way. Ferrari arrived at a circuit suitable for his car. “The goal is not to win, but to win twice”, said the boss of Ferrari, Mattia Binotto. Sainz was fourth and Leclerc it is the 6th. The Italians are wrong about so many things, again. They shot themselves in the foot off the wall with a strategy that was misunderstood and they didn’t scratch. They threw another title. It’s huge, huge. One more. Max, week after week, is more king. He has attached the handle to the champion’s cup. You just have to grab it. There are 9 races left for the end of world Y Verstappen is on his way to his second crown. The question doesn’t seem to be whether Ferrari can come back. Let’s turn to the rest: In which race will Verstappen be crowned?

The race seemed perfect for Ferrari from the start

Before the race, it seemed likely that the red cars would occupy the long-awaited 1-2 to take a break in the hope of making a miracle comeback. And Verstappen’s aim should be to minimize risks. But it happens the other way around. It was another Ferrari disaster. Red Bull again gave the Italians a major review of strategy and pit stops. The title is not won by the fastest car. The best set between car, driver and team wins. Red Bull is bordering on perfection in almost everything and Ferrari still needs to improve in many aspects. It is useless to have a champion single-seater, which, yes, should improve its reliability, if they cannot execute their plans perfectly and have cracks in many aspects.

Now, one of the keys is in the wheel. Ferrari didn’t expect the pace of the race, especially with what was seen on Friday, but the previous day’s rain and the cold made a difference to the track conditions. That gave Red Bull wings, perfect. But Ferrari put in the rest to lose the race.

Verstappen, because he started 10th, could take more risks at the start and start on soft rubber. Russell also started in that compound from first place to defend himself against Sainz (2nd) and Leclerc (3rd), who started on the medium tyre.

At the start, the top positions were maintained and Hamilton, who had a good start from seventh position, was placed fifth after a Norris that would not last long. Meanwhile, Verstappen began his comeback from the middle of the grid. The race seems perfect for Ferrari. Carlos chases Russell with a tire that allows him to extend his first stop, and Charles sticks to the Spaniard with the same compound. Then, Ferrari tried a theater in the pits announcing the stop they didn’t make with Sainz. Russell dived and blocked.

an important change

What was not understood was what happened next: Sainz stopped a lap later despite wearing medium tires. Why?! Why? You have to ask about it. Coincidentally, the same thing happened Silverstone, with Leclerc chasing him and asking on the radio to let him pass. In Britain, ferrari he stopped the Spaniard before the Monegasque overtook him and the Madrid native lost his balance, having to extend his second stint. Similar situation. In HungaryLeclerc’s radio calls were not heard Carlos let him pass, but his situation in the World Cup, closer than sainz of Verstappen, leaving him in a priority situation on the team. They went from making a play for Russell to pass, to the offense being nervous about Russell’s approach. Sainz stopped earlier and the pit stop was slow again. A) Yes, Carlos not get a position on Russell and lost the advantage of rubber.

After this, Leclerc he extended his tire average less than expected, 21 laps, ahead of Sainz on the track. Ferrari has what it wants: from Monegasque Carlos. And on fresh medium tyres, Leclerc promised them the happiness of beating George Russell after a superb and heroic defense by the Briton in which he once again made it clear that he has plenty of championship material.

It was lap 31. Russell, on older rubber, could not touch Charles and Sainz was also for the English. But the real rival for victory is not the British but the monster from behind: Verstappen, who is already fourth and riding just behind Carlos Sainz with better speed than the Ferrari fans and a better card to his credit: the middle rubber . Ferrari used their two available medium tires in the first two stints, while Max in the last two. That makes a difference.

Verstappen’s final attack

Verstappen launched an ‘undercut’ with Carlos putting on the medium tire on lap 39 and knowing that Sainz and Leclerc would have to stop, yes or yes, to put on a different tire as both had only used medium on their first two stops. Leclerc has one hard and one soft left and Ferrari put him on the hard one. From there, Charles, who was almost leading the race, had no choice.

At that moment, Sainz was first but had to stop. Hamilton was behind him and he also had to go through the street of garages. Y Verstappen overtook Leclerc in third place taking advantage of the fact that Charles put it hard, fighting for the virtual lead as they both stopped. Leclerc then said goodbye to his options.

Drops of water began to fall. If it starts raining hard, the race could be Carlos Sainz’s. It depends on the sky. But that’s too much to ask. Ferrari did not make merits to win the favor of the clouds.

Verstappen’s peak

The first drops made the track very slippery and Verstappen spun. Leclerc passed him again and Max was lucky to have Pérez behind him, who acted as a shield so Russell didn’t take advantage of that spin to pass. Verstappen then returned to the fray and again easily passed a Leclerc who on that hard rubber lost everything.

Sainz stopped with 22 laps to go to put on the soft. Too early. Again, another very slow stop of 4″6 seconds, more than 2″ slower than it should have been. So it is impossible to do anything. Russell passed Leclerc and took second, and Ferrari decided to take the cable with Charles and stop him again to put on the soft rubber, moving him to sixth place.

Hamilton, who wore softer rubber later than the Ferraris, came on like a bang and beat Sainz without hesitation and eventually Russell. The one from Stevenage would be second and George was able to maintain a good pace to maintain third position and leave Carlos in fourth place. Pérez was 5th and Leclerc couldn’t get past the sixth position. An absolute red mess.