Red Bull’s Max Verstappen survived to win the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix over the last few laps with a charging seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes making progress as Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate, George Russell, claimed the third and final podium position.
Russell began the race in a surprising pole position and was able to hold that lead for first 17 laps of the race until the first of a parade of multiple pit crossovers began as five drivers were able to hold the lead of the race at one point or another. Those multiple pit crossovers shuffled the leaders until Lap 40 when Ferrari once again committed a strategy error and put hard tires on Charles Leclerc, allowing all five drivers from the top teams to pass him and giving Hamilton and Russell access to claim their podium places.
Verstappen, meanwhile moved from his starting position of 10th and survived his own driving mistake – a spin on Lap 42 – to hold off the charging Hamilton at the end of the race.
With the victory, Verstappen extends his season Formula 1 driver’s championship lead to 80 points with 258 points to Leclerc’s 178 points as the race for second and third heats up with Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez in third with 173 points, followed by Russell in fourth with 158 points, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Jr. in fifth with 156 points and Hamilton in sixth with 146 points – a mere 32 points separating second and sixth places.
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix – Top 10 Finishers
1] Max Verstappen Red Bull
2] Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
3] George Russell Mercedes
4] Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari
5] Sergio Pérez Red Bull
6] Charles Leclerc Ferrari
7] Lando Norris McLaren
8] Fernando Alonso Alpine
9] Esteban Ocon Alpine
10] Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin
