Max Verstappen will be full of confidence going in to this weekend’s Hungarian GP, after a fantastic performance in a classic event in Germany last week.
A total of seven drivers failed to finish the race last week in the German Grand Prix, including Mercedes’ driver Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Most of the drivers will be hoping for a much drier upcoming GP at Hungaroring on Sunday. Let’s take a look at all the important information ahead of the weekend.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
What? Hungarian Grand Prix
Where? Hungaroring, Mogyorod
When? Sunday 4th August 2019 (14:10)
PREVIOUS HUNGARIAN GP WINNERS:
2018 – Lewis Hamilton
2017 – Sebastian Vettel
2016 – Lewis Hamilton
2015 – Sebastian Vettel
2014 – Daniel Ricciardo
LAST GP REVIEW: HOCKENHEIMRING BADEN-WURTTEMBERG
Lewis Hamilton started very well against Max Verstappen in rainy conditions, whilst Sebastian Vettel climbed from 20th place to 13th in lap two. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez spun off the track right in front of the German which forced a Safety Car to be deployed early in the German Grand Prix. A lot of the drivers, including Hamilton and Verstappen, used this as a chance to make an early pit stop.
By the fifth lap, Hamilton and Bottas were both competing for first place, just like they did at Silverstone in the previous GP. At the same time, Charles Leclerc and Nico Hulkenberg were competing for fourth spot. Pierre Gasly fell 13 places from the start of the race to 17th, which was the worst possible start that the Red Bull driver could make.
Max Verstappen managed to extend his lead over fourth placed Leclerc to over six seconds in the 15th lap, whilst Daniel Ricciardo’s car started producing smoke in the same lap which forced the Renault driver to pull out of the race.
Even though Verstappen suffered a spin in lap 27, he managed to recover and carry on, as opposed to Lando Norris who lost all power in his car and had issues with his gear stick. This forced him out of the German GP. A slow pit stop from Hamilton in lap 29 looked to be costly as Charles Leclerc closed in on him. However, Leclerc crashed in to barriers in his pursuit of the leader after losing control of his car.
Hulkenberg crashed out of the race at the same corner that Leclerc and Hamilton made mistakes, errors that took both Hulkenberg and Leclerc out of the German GP.
Hamilton’s luck did not last, when he had to make another pit stop that lasted nearly a minute. The Mercedes team were in complete chaos trying to replace his front wing after Hamilton clipped a barrier, similar to what Leclerc did. This allowed Max Verstappen to take the lead.
A lot of pit stops took place in lap 47, with Hamilton and Raikkonen taking first and second place respectively after Verstappen’s pit stop, although the former served his five second penalty in the pit lanes which allowed Verstappen to regain the lead. Daniil Kvyat came from nowhere to take second, a position that he wouldn’t be able to keep for the remainder of the race.
Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes crashed out in the 57th lap, capping off a frustrating day for Mercedes. However, it was a better day for Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel who started the day at 20th and took 2nd place in the penultimate lap of the GP. Pierre Gasly also crashed out of the race after trying to overtake Alexander Albon.
Max Verstappen comfortably won the race by over five seconds, whilst Vettel managed to retain second spot for a podium finish. The full results of the German Grand Prix can be found below.
Final Classification:
1st – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2nd – Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
3rd – Daniil Kvyat (Scuderia Toro Rosso)
4th – Lance Stroll (Racing Point)
5th – Carlos Sainz (McLaren)
6th – Alexander Albon (Scuderia Toro Rosso)
7th – Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo)
8th – Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo)
9th – Romain Grosjean (Haas)
10th – Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
11th – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
12th – Robert Kubica (Williams)
13th – George Russell (Williams)
DNF – Pierre Gasly (Red Bull)
DNF – Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
DNF – Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
DNF – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
DNF – Lando Norris (McLaren)
DNF – Daniel Ricciardo (Renault)
DNF – Sergio Perez (Racing Point)
REMAINING GRAND PRIX 2019 EVENTS:
1st September – Belgian GP, Stavelot
8th September – Italian GP, Monza
22nd September – Singapore GP
29th September – Russian GP, Sochi
13th October – Japanese GP, Suzuka
27th October – Mexican GP, Mexico City
3rd November – US Grand Prix, Texas
17th November – Brazilian GP, Sao Paulo
1st December – Abu Dhabi GP
