From Australia Formula 1 prodigy Oscar Piastri scored points for the fourth time in his rookie campaign in the top class, finishing fourth at Hungarian Grand Prix early Monday morning (AEST).
The Hungarian Grand Prix also marked the return of F1 to the Australian favourites Daniel Ricciardowho finished 13th later replacing the stricken Nyck de Vries.
Ricciardo beat AlphaTauri teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who came home 15th.
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Two-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen needed just a few seconds to assert his dominance in the race, before cruising to his seventh consecutive victory of the season.
Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton started from pole position ahead of Verstappenwho shot him in the first corner and never looked back.
Red Bull’s 12th consecutive win, including the final race in 2022, broke McLaren’s record for consecutive wins set in 1988.
“This was really fun to drive. Twelve in a row – it’s amazing,” said Verstappen.
“Awesome.
“I was really enjoying the last time.”
Verstappen is on his way to a third straight F1 title. His ninth victory – the last with another bonus point in the fastest race – means the 25-year-old Dutchman leads Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez by 110.
McLaren driver Lando Norris finished second for the second consecutive race and Perez finished third in what was the most important of the six races.
Verstappen’s victory now stands at 44 – the same number as Hamilton’s car.
Hamilton started on pole for the first time since the 2021 Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia – the same time he won his 103rd F1 race. He hasn’t won since the start.
He felt lucky after driving so well in qualifying.
But Verstappen, who won from 10th here last year, found a sluggish Hamilton as he entered the first lane, while the McLarens of Norris and Piastri jumped past Hamilton and dropped him to fourth.
This is where he finished on the 4.4-kilometer track at the Hungaroring, one of the most difficult jumps in F1.
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