NOT THIS TIME!

 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 2025

photo credit: straits.com

 This year Lando was not letting the top step go!

After giving the win to Oscar last year which marked Oscar's first F1 win, this year Lando was a man on a mission and ready to win at all costs and he did so but his march to P1 was not without difficulties. He qualified P3,behind Charles in the Ferrari and his teammate Oscar, even though he had the pace for pole. The first lap was terrible for Lando with him losing two places to Fernando and George at the start. Futher on, he quickly dispatched Alonso who did not put up a fight against the faster McLaren. On the contrary, it was not the same case again when he reached Russell. No matter what Lando did, he was not able to get past him. At this point, it looked like there was no chance for Lando to win at all. While everyone was going for a two stop strategy, Lando's side of the garage pulled off a hail mary as there was nothing better they could do for Lando and his position at that instant, they put him on a one stop strategy... hard tires till the end of the race. He would gain track position on the likes of Russell, Leclerc and Piastri but in the end would have to defend from them... Well that is what happened, but just his teammate could catch him up in the final few laps. They had an epic duel with Lando having almost 40 lap old tires while Oscar's were almost half the age. He defended the attack even though he was close to a sitting duck. He did not put a foot wrong, he was a man on a mission and in the end racked up the victory and the porcelain trophy he has been finishing runner up to for the last two years. Just a faultless drive with a crazy drive. Its literally what dreams are made of. 

Well, Oscar Piastri would be gutted as this was his race and he could have built on this momentum from Spa but his teammate had other plans to say the least. If he had won the race he would have built his lead up to 23 points but due to Lando winning it is down to only 9 points. The tracks coming on later in the season are known to suit Lando more, but Oscar has upped his game this season. For all we know this championship battle might go till the end of the season. 
Overall, McLaren are just a rocket ship and they have the aerodynamic efficiency and pace that no one else has which is accompanied by pinpoint accurate strategies and pitstops.

Next on, we head to Ferrari who well to say the least had a terrible weekend. Even though, Charles Leclerc qualified on pole on a track where overtaking is painstakingly difficult. He led most of the race but well the second half had some surprises packed for him. After his pit second pit stop he just lost all the pace he had due to a problem in his chassis. He went from the lead to getting usurped by Norris and Piastri. As the race went further on, he got usurped by George Russell too from who he defended ferociously, moving under braking for which he even got a penalty. In the end, he only managed to finish P4, a terribly disappointing result knowing it could have been Ferrari's first grand prix win of the season. Similarly, his teammate Lewis Hamilton had his worst Hungarian grand prix ever, getting knocked out in Q2 and starting and finishing in P12. In the qualifying driver reaction he blamed himself and termed himself as "useless". It breaks the hearts of lots of fans as everyone in the F1 community know what Lewis is capable of and what can he do as he has done for the past so many seasons. 
Overall, Ferrari will look to ponder over the summer break on what were they doing wrong and come back stronger and give their drivers, one who is championship material and one who is arguably the best ever a car with which they can win races with. 

Heading on to Mercedes... They just seem to have lost their edge over the Ferrari and genuinely look slower than them. The strategy played well into their hands this weekend, with finally both of their drivers scoring points after so many races. George Russell like always somehow managed to get onto the podium again. A podium which seemed unlikely if it had not been for Charles Leclerc and his problems. Kimi Antonelli too after a long pointless slump he had rounded off the points position in P10.

Overall, a good points haul for Mercedes even though they seemed to lack the pace to their rivals. 

Last of the big four, Red Bull. They just have another terrible weekend. Max started in P8 and finished P9, behind the sister Red Bull car, the VcaRB. He just could not make up the positions. On the other hand, like always Yuki Tsunoda finished out of the points in P17. It just seems that Yuki is not one with the car and is now way behind both VCaRB cars in terms of points. Its just not working out for Red Bull as a team currently and are going backwards in terms of progress instead of forwards.

There was one midfield team which pulled a miracle out of the bag.... It was Aston Martin. They qualified P5, P6 and finished P5 and P7 with Fernando being the lead driver of the two. It was one of the most unexpected results ever. This now puts them ahead again of the Kick Sauber team by just one point. This just shows how close the midfield is.

Sauber also had a great result with Gabriel Bortolleto finishing P6. Just an unbelievable drive from him considering he is a rookie. Just inch perfect driving to secure a good result for the team. On the other hand, Nico Hulkenberg could only finish P13. The problem that Sauber is facing currently is that both of their drivers never perform together, each driver performs at different races or else they would have way more points than they do currently.

Now heading on to Williams as expected they had no pace. Coming into this weekend it was a given that the slippery, highly speed oriented aerodynamic nature of the Williams will play against them and that is what happened. In the end their drivers finished P14 and P15, not what they hoped for but it is a one case. 

They might secure P5 in the constructor's considering their drivers, car and team management. 

Next on VCaRB. They had a pretty decent result with Liam Lawson holding off Max Verstappen till the end and finishing P8 and Isack just outside the points in P11. It was a phenomenal drive by Liam to finish ahead of the reigning world championship. He has found his mojo again, the same one he showed us last 2 years especially at singapore 2023. He is a man on a mission and is very subtly showing Red Bull what a big mistake they have made. End of the day both VCaRB drivers are in top form and performing very well right now, scoring points for their team week in, week out as is expected. The VCaRB team is in a very good place right now and are fighting for P6 in the constructors.

The Haas team also weren't particularly fast and finished P16 in the case of Ocon and Ollie did not even complete the race. Two bad weekends in a row for them. They too would love to recoup and restrategize over the Summer break and get back to scoring points as soon as possible. 

Lastly, Alpine... they were slow as always. Finished last of all runners P18 and P19. They are last in the constructors and the way it is going do not look to be more competitive than they currently are. Just a tough time for the Enstone team.

Hungary was very eventful with ups and downs throughout, but as always making overtaking a task only for the brave. A very good race and one surely Lando will remember till the end of eternity.

Next on we head to the land of the flying dutchmen, the reigning world champion, the land of orange... Zandvoort, Netherlands. A fast track which is narrow yet offers overtaking. Iconic for its banking sitting at 19 degrees, this is the home of Max Verstappen. Max has won all races except one since it has come back on the calender in 2021. Lando Norris won last year. So will the McLaren boys make it a easy win for themselves as always and make the orange in the crowd their own or will the home hero, Max have something to answer at his home grand prix. Only time will tell...