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Lewis Hamilton claimed his 81st win in Formula One by roaring to victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix after converting to a two-stop strategy and completing a dramatic chase for the win.
Hamilton, who started third on the grid, swiftly passed Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas and then the five-time world champion was off on his golden glory mission.
Dutch Max Verstappen, who started from pole position for the first time, was runner-up after being reeled in and overtaken four laps from the end with his tyres worn to the limit.
The Mercedes team took a gamble on their two-stop strategy for this race but Hamilton and trust in each other made it work out in the end.
Hamilton is proud of how far his team has come. He said: “We’ve been together for seven years, but this feeling never gets old. If it wasn’t for everyone here and back at the factory, this wouldn’t have been possible.
“I’m so grateful to be a part of it and for the team for continuing to believe in me, push the limits and take a risk. We struggled a little with the brakes today, so I was trying to save as much as I could for when I had a chance to pass Max. It was very, very difficult to get by.
“I wasn’t sure if I could close the 19-second gap, but the team said to just get your head down, so I did. I kept pushing, the gap closed and the laps were like Qualifying laps. I was on the limit all the way. I take my hat off to the team and I think if Niki were here today, he would take his hat off too.”
Hamilton, who also succeeded in Hungary last year and is heading inexorably towards a sixth title, now has 250 points. Team mate Bottas has a total of 188 points and Verstappen is closing in fast on 181.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport Formula One team principal and CEO, added: “What an unbelievable comeback. This is why we love the sport, you are holding onto moments like this, where it’s an unexpected result and this is why it feels so great.
“We didn’t think it would go this way but the strategy team did so well and made great calls. There was a specific point in the race where we weren’t sure if Lewis would catch Max, but he got his head down and once the Red Bull was in sight, we knew he’d pounce.
“An incredible drive and a great result to head into the summer break with. On Valtteri’s side, it was a disappointing day. He was so pumped for the race and his qualifying performance was great. But, the first lap didn’t go well and from there it was tough for him to fight back through the field. It has been a fantastic first half of the season, with 10 wins from 12 races. We will use the break to recharge our batteries – and hopefully return even stronger in Spa on September 1.”
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished third and more than a minute behind. Bottas, starting on the front row, finished eighth after a fight back from last place following an early stop to change a front wing damaged as he and Hamilton made light contact on the opening lap.
McLaren enjoyed another strong afternoon with both drivers in the points, Spaniard Carlos Sainz fifth and British teenager Lando Norris ninth.
Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly was lapped by Verstappen on the way to sixth place and Kimi Raikkonen was seventh for Alfa Romeo. Thai racer Alexander Albon, who went wheel-to-wheel with team mate Daniil Kvyat, took the final point for Honda-powered Toro Rosso.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes have 438 points with Ferrari on 288 and Red Bull 244.
