Esteban Ocon takes first F1 win in high drama Hungarian Grand Prix

17:03, 01 Aug 2021
44 Comments

It was Esteban Ocon who took the victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Frenchman’s first Formula 1 win. It was a bizarre race after an early lap 1 collision involving a quarter of the grid meaning Sebastian Vettel came in P2 with Carlos Sainz completing the podium in P3. Lewis Hamilton had a good recovery drive to finsih P3 with Max Verstappen's damaged Red Bull limping home P10.

There was plenty of drama throughout the whole race.

The rain began to fall minutes before the lights went out which put the whole grid on the intermediate tyre.

It was an adrenaline fuelled start. Hamilton got a clean get away but Valtteri Bottas struggled and was overtaken by Lando Norris. Bottas was then unable to control his car and shunted into the back of Norris’ McLaren which caused a domino effect of crashes.

Norris hit into Max Verstappen, Bottas collided with Perez, and in a separate incident, Stroll forced Leclerc out of the race as well.

There was major damage to most cars on the grid and Perez, Stroll, Leclerc, Bottas and Norris were all forced to retire from the race due to the damage. Bottas has recived a penalty for causing the pile up.

There was major damage and carbon fibre everywhere which brought out the red flag which gave the teams an opportunity to try and repair some of the damage caused by the lap 1 incident.

At the time of the red flag, Hamilton was running P1, Ocon P2 and Vettel in P3. To add to the excitement, Latifi was up to P6, Russell P8 and Schumacher P10!

As the race get ready to restart, the sun came out and the track was beginning to dry. On the formation lap everyone but Hamilton came into the pits to put slick tyres on.

Hamilton stayed out on the intermediate tyre and was the only car on the grid as the race restarted.

Russell came out of the pitlane in P2 but had to give places back for overtaking in the pitlane so dropped down to 7th. Hamilton then pitted after 1 lap for the dry tyre and came out last, starting an afternoon of overtaking for the Brit.

As the drama settled it was Ocon leading from Vettel and Latifi. The Alpine and the Aston Martin had a good battle at the front of the race.

Mazepin then became the latest retiree after colliding with Raikkonen in the pitlance which knocked his front right wheel off. The Alfa Romeo was given a 10 second penalty for the incident.

On lap 20, Hamilton pitted for the hard tyre which brought in Verstappen on the following lap. The undercut worked. Hamilton was ahead when Verstappen came out of the pits and was now running P9.

Having pitted a second time for the medium tyre, Hamilton had fresh rubber to attack Alonso for P4. The Spaniard did an incredible job of keeping the Mercedes behind and showed why he is a two-time world champion.

Despite his best efforts, Hamilton passed the Alpine with five laps to go take home P4. A battle truly reminiscent of the 2007 season.

It didn't then take long before Hamilton passed Carlos Sainz for P3 to secure a good recovery result which sees him take the lead in the drivers championship heading into the summer break.

Full Results:

1. Ocon

2. Vettel

3. Hamilton

4. Sainz

5. Alonso

6. Gasly

7. Tsunoda

8. Latifi

9. Russell

10. Verstappen

11. Raikkonen

12. Ricciardo

13. Schumacher

14. Giovinazzi

44 Comments
T12 01 August 2021 at 18:12+ 485

Hi. New here. I'm a refugee from other F1 sites that have run amok with ppl turning the sport into identity politics. Is it the same here, or is there hope?

Hekate 01 August 2021 at 18:36+ 21351

I'm afraid it's the same here, but welcome to the blog.

T12 01 August 2021 at 18:51+ 485

Thanks!

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sicnarF 01 August 2021 at 18:40+ 8761

There's some.

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 19:06+ 23225

It's the same here mate unfortunately.
Filled with Hamilton haters and Max supporters. Those who support the booing.
Mainly because it's essentially a Dutch site.

So if you're not in that crowd of cycnical, disinformative so-called fans, then you're up against it.

It's a shame because to have constructive criticism, reasoned and rational debate and healthy disagreements is only something you can hope for but it's so rare these days and people are too keen to bash every little detail for their own agenda's, which is all they care about. Facts take a back seat with those people.
If you stick around long enough you'll see who they are.

Good posts are deserving of good replies. Bad trolling posts are deserving of the same medicine back. IMO.

Fez Nene 01 August 2021 at 20:49+ 17880

As you see for yourself... if you have a good strong heart... you'll get used to it..

Sitting Bull 01 August 2021 at 17:50+ 1509

Well, despite Mercedes blunder, looks like the tables have turned going into summer break. Winning a championship title isn’t as easy as some people think. Lion Heart 44 goes from P14 to P3. Kudos to Alonzo for putting up a stellar fight for his team. Mercedes retakes driver and constructor lead. Of course, this is still only half-season, with everything still to play for. Red Bull still have a chance especially if Mercedes keeps bungling strategy and hoping for their star driver to save the day. For now, though, erasing such a huge deficit and retaking the lead is gratifying. it’s all good

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Stevesyd 01 August 2021 at 18:07+ 36119

As long as they have a far superior car to make up for the average drivers wheel.
Can why Lulu wants Bottas to stay.
He's much less of a threat than at least 10 -12 other drivers.

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 18:59+ 23225

"As long as they have a far superior car to make up for the average drivers wheel." - The same could be said for Max if you were to be cynical.

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 17:48+ 23225

I love how all the anti-Ham and pro Max fans are now trying everything to push their agenda :)

Never mind that Lewis almost won a race from the back, finished 3rd and now leads the championship.
Yeah lets push that aside and slag off Lewis some more with nonsense.

Bring your bitterness, your nonsense and your fictional views. I'm got my popcorn :)

T12 01 August 2021 at 18:27+ 485

There are also neutral fans of the sport who have watched F1 for decades, seeing out and appreciating the careers of several drivers in the process. It is only in today's social media landscape that you'll find partisanship and tribal behavior - it comes with the nature of the media. It's all too easy to avoid differing views and stick with those who already agree with you. Then, you label the other group with whatever derogatory term that's in current fashion. The word, hater, comes to mind.

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 18:36+ 23225

I agree with the majority of what you've said there, completely.
But I'm not the hater and I'm not sure what derogatory label you're referring to.
I troll the trolls. I hate the hate.
When you see that, the clouds will clear.

T12 01 August 2021 at 18:53+ 485

Understood.

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 18:57+ 23225

Good man.

krishsud 01 August 2021 at 17:41+ 4806

Well done ocon. Great first win. All hail bottas for just ruining that max vs lewis battle. Just creating events for multiple crash. Better to have george there.

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Stevesyd 01 August 2021 at 17:34+ 36119

How many opportunities did Hamilton have to pass Alonso in a faster car and fresher tyres?

Vish 01 August 2021 at 17:40+ 14459

And who is on the podium?

Sitting Bull 01 August 2021 at 17:53+ 1509

A great champion keeps 15 points instead of attempting to win 25 and losing it all. A wannabe risks everything and loses it all. Some of you really ought to grow up and learn how Formula 1 motor racing works.

Sitting Bull 01 August 2021 at 17:55+ 1509

And, guess who’s in the championship lead: it’s definitely not Alonzo. Even he knew that Hamilton would not risk a DNF because that would be stupid. Two champions.

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JohnAndrews 01 August 2021 at 17:20+ 11006

Alonso showed real racing. Hamilton cried again like a baby. Bottas made a rookie mistake. Mercedes made a huge mistake with their tire choice. Don't crack under pressure.

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 17:46+ 23225

You seem to have left out the result of the race.

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Stevesyd 01 August 2021 at 17:18+ 36119

Well done Ocon.
Beautiful drive from you and Alonso who taught Lulu a lesson today.

Vish 01 August 2021 at 17:39+ 14459

What lesson? Didn't HAM overtake him, you left early or what?

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 17:16+ 23225

Amazing race. Lewis had a great chance of the win from the back too. Shame he was stuck behind Alonso for so long but what a battle between those two champions !
Paper champion my a**.
On a hard to pass track, Lewis really shone.

Congrats to Ocon for that win. He'll have to give Alonso a little thank you for that one :)
Vettel gave it everything all the race but yeah so hard to pass.

So as we go into the summer break, a 32 point deficit has now turned around and Lewis leads the world championship. Wohoo !

Great race. One to watch again. Loved Russells pass on Schumacher, Lewis' pass on turn 4 on (was it Gasly?) and his pass 3 wide on Sainz.

A nail biter.

AyranSenna 01 August 2021 at 17:41+ 106

Hamilton, good driver, great car.
Alonso, great driver, good car.

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 17:45+ 23225

Aren't opinions great? :)

Alonso, great driver, 2 championships, 32 wins
Hamilton, great driver, 7 championships, 99 wins

Danz 01 August 2021 at 17:16+ 3113

What a race. Absolute roller coaster of emotions. Nothing gives you highs and lows like this sport does. That's why I love it so much! Fantastic race. And the king is back on top!

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 17:20+ 23225

Brilliant race! I'll take that result. Fantastic.
Really want to watch that one again.

Fez Nene 01 August 2021 at 17:39+ 17880

Frim team mistake com8ng out last.. to you can do it... podium possible... Wow.

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Stevesyd 01 August 2021 at 17:15+ 36119

Hamilton? Alonso in slower car and older tyres exposed him as an average driver.
Hilarious.
Go hide Lewis, you are a joke.

Any01 01 August 2021 at 17:20+ 749

No it was too fantastic racers on a track that's hard to overtake on in fantastic battle. Can't you just appreciate things rather than having a dig every single time. You're the one that should hide.

Any01 01 August 2021 at 17:22+ 749

Don't forget that Alonso is often the driver that current and past drivers speak of as perhaps the best F1 driver.

Vish 01 August 2021 at 17:33+ 14459

Older tyres by 8-10 laps and on harder tyres, you must be quite weak at following things

Fez Nene 01 August 2021 at 17:15+ 17880

Well done Ocon... what a race... wow! So well deserve for Ocon...

Hekate 01 August 2021 at 17:12+ 21351

Congratulations, Esteban! Fantastic performance and defence from Vettel. Well done.

Any01 01 August 2021 at 17:10+ 749

Congratulations Ocon and well done Alonso, he totally won that for his teammate.

Any01 01 August 2021 at 17:11+ 749

Also Williams finally getting some points.

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 17:25+ 23225

He did. Alonso is the wiley old fox and was officially voted driver of the day because people liked him holding up Hamilton and stopping him winning the race. :) Haha gotta love it.

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George Xenakis 01 August 2021 at 17:09+ 246325

"Lewis was doggedly in the loop with this Neffex song =
... I got an arsenal ... No, I'm not stopping, no ,Conquer the obstacle ... To the top, here... Yeah, sometimes I think that I’m unstoppable ... Yeah, I got a shot and I ain't stopping, no. "

Get in there Esteban.

Max Verstappen ,driver of the day ,running great with a broken car.

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FlatOut 01 August 2021 at 17:24+ 23225

Max driver of the day? He wasn't even a feature. Come on. Haha.

Russell, Ocon, Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton even Sainz.

Ocon is my driver of the day. Holding off a 4 times champ for the entire race to take his first F1 win.

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Joost F1 01 August 2021 at 17:27+ 24750

Not even a feature...I wonder why that was??

But of course, he wasnt driver of the day, Alonso was. People hopibg for a fair/exciting championship battle were the losers today unfortunately

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Stevesyd 01 August 2021 at 17:36+ 36119

You obviously haven't been following F1 for too long.
Max's car was a mess.

Vish 01 August 2021 at 17:40+ 14459

Max, really? Was he in the race today?

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Stevesyd 01 August 2021 at 17:46+ 36119

Not after Hamilton's bitch Bottas took both Red Bulls out just before Max was about to jump all over the myth.