Two weeks ago, Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in a thrilling fashion, setting a new record and solidifying Mercedes' position as a serious contender. The Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest marks the return of Formula One action after a weekend break, and things are only getting better on the racetrack.
With the Silver Arrows having won two straight, the race is now between four teams at the head of the grid: Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes are all vying for the top spot. The latter will attempt to make it three straight at the Hungaroring after stealing the past two wins.
By the time the paddock reached Hungary, the last two Formula One campaigns had already lost their spark. It was hard to expect tough racing in Budapest because Red Bull was dominating every weekend and Max Verstappen was easily winning the driver's titles.
Verstappen has had yet another fast start to the season, but the Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes pursuit group has honed their strategies (and equipment) to get closer to him. The previous five races have been won by four different drivers, and in just 12 races this year, six different drivers have claimed victories—double the number of different drivers who did it in 2023. Only twice in the last ten years has that figure been attained, and the season is just halfway through.
Eight drivers (Verstappen, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri, Sergio Pérez, George Russell, or Hamilton) seem like they may be the first to the checkered flag heading into any race weekend. A accident in Austria, a dominant qualifying effort in Monaco, and tire strategy in the wet conditions in Great Britain are just a few of the variables that have altered the race results in the recent few weeks.
Hungary ought to intensify its already intense rivalry. It's possible that McLaren still has the greatest vehicle available. It's possible that Verstappen will manage to secure a podium or maybe a victory in an incredibly unstable Red Bull.
It is still possible that Hamilton and Russell might appear out of nowhere, like they did in Austria and Great Britain, and take the win. The race on Sunday looks to be among the most exciting of the season since any of these events may happen.
While being on the podium in eight consecutive races is undoubtedly impressive, Norris, Piastri, and the team have spoken openly how frustrated they are with opportunities lost. After Red Bull and Verstappen jumped out to a commanding lead in the standings early in the season, every point matters, especially considering how much separates first position (25 points) and second place (18 points).
Red Bull's lead in the constructor's standings has been somewhat eroded by McLaren, but Norris is unable to catch up to Verstappen, who has outperformed him in four consecutive race weekends.
The team has a great chance in Hungary to cement its recent success and demonstrate that it is returning for not just one, but two championships following the summer break.
Over the previous six race weekends, Verstappen's teammate has only managed to collect 15 points in total, despite having an extra chance to do so in the sprint race in Austria. After a stellar start to the season, he has fallen all the way to sixth position in the drivers' standings. Right now, Verstappen leads all drivers in Formula One with 255 points, 137 more than Pérez. This is the largest point differential between colleagues in the sport this year.
To exacerbate the situation, Red Bull's nearest competitors have gained significant ground on the team as a result of the heightened competitiveness amid Pérez's difficulties. Throughout the previous six races, Sainz, Piastri, and Hamilton—all presently holding the second-place position on their teams in the standings—have outscored their Red Bull counterparts by 48, 68, and 68 points, respectively.
The 34-year-old's recent performance has been deemed "unsustainable" by team principal Christian Horner, who has taken notice and only served to fuel rumors regarding his potential future with the club. Earlier in the season, Pérez consented to a contract extension with Red Bull, but he still has options if the organization decides to go in a different direction.
If Verstappen's performance does not improve, there is cause to think that the team may try to replace him with another driver, either RB Yuki Tsunoda or reserve driver Liam Lawson.
