Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton storms to victory at Hungarian Grand Prix, matches unique Michael Schumacher record

Lewis Hamilton comfortably triumphed to win his eighth Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, matching a unique Michael Schumacher record.

Hamilton dominated from start to finish to equal Schumacher’s achievement of winning the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours eight times.


Hamilton is now top of the championship standings

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The Briton finished ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, with Valtteri Bottas third. Racing Point’s Lance Stroll took the flag in fourth ahead of Red Bull driver Alexander Albon and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton, who has now won two of the opening three grands prix, moves five points clear of Bottas at the top of the table in his quest for a record-equalling seventh title.

Following a deluge of rain an hour before the start, the race began in damp conditions. Indeed, Verstappen could count himself fortunate to even make the start after he thudded into the barriers on his way to the grid.


Verstappen was second with Bottas third

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The Dutchman lost control of his Red Bull at the right-handed Turn 12, colliding with the wall and losing his front wing. But his mechanics pulled off a miracle job to ensure his wounded machine was repaired in time for lights out.

Verstappen started in seventh, but he was soon up to third following an emphatic start in the greasy conditions.

Hamilton was supreme off his marks, too, leading the drag race down to the opening bend from Stroll and Verstappen. Remarkably, the Englishman finished the first lap three seconds clear of Stroll.

Starting alongside Hamilton, Bottas had been expected to take the challenge to his Mercedes team-mate, but his afternoon was dealt a major blow following a poor start which saw him fall from the front row to seventh by the end of the first tour.


Hamilton eased to victory

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Bottas attempted to chase down Verstappen in the closing stages, taking on a new set of tyres with 20 laps remaining, but the Finn’s challenge fell just short.

There were no such concerns for Hamilton who led by as many as nine seconds when he stopped on the third lap for slick rubber.

Verstappen stayed out for one lap more than his Mercedes rival, but his stop for dry tyres allowed Hamilton to assume the lead.

From there, the Englishman never looked back. He was even able to stop for a fresh set of tyres with four laps to run to take a bonus point for the fastest lap, crossing the line 8.7 seconds clear of Verstappen and lapping the entire field up to Albon in fifth.


Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport