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The 2021 season was all about Max vs Lewis. But at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the world celebrated with an unexpected winner.
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About The Hungarian Grand Prix
On 24th March 1986, the first ever Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix took place. It was something of a curiosity, being the first Formula 1 race to be held behind the Iron Curtain. Bernie Ecclestone had initially envisioned a race within the USSR, but a friend recommended Budapest as a more suitable location.
It took just eight months for the Hungaroring to be built, making it the fastest purpose-built Formula 1 circuit ever to be constructed. The circuit has a distinct lack of straights, bringing a challenge that many drivers enjoy. The twisting, bumpy track provides a tough fight for overtakes, which can prove extremely tricky in dry conditions.
The Hungarian Grand Prix has also seen its fair share of maiden victories. Damon Hill took his first Formula 1 win at the 1993 Hungarian Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso claimed his first victory at the Hungaroring in 2003, whilst in 2006 Jenson Button beat him to the line to claim his first race win. In 2008, Heikki Kovalainen managed to secure his first (and only) Formula 1 victory.
The race traditionally takes place at the height of summer, in what is typically a very hot and dry region. The circuit can also get very dusty, largely due to the lack of use during the off-season. It wasn’t until 2006, Hungary’s 20th Grand Prix, that the first wet Formula 1 race took place at the Hungaroring As it stands, the Hungaroring has a contract to host Formula 1 races until 2032.
The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix
The 2021 season was dominated by the epic (and often bitter) championship battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Sure, it ended on a sour note and brought the credibility of some of Formula 1’s higher-ups into question, but it was also a season full of pleasant surprises.
At the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, the world basked in the glory of one of the most heartfelt moments of the season. At the end of a chaotic race, it was an unexpected hero who would stand on the top step of the podium. And it all started with the planet’s favourite ingredient for spicing things up…rain.
Lights Out, Flags Out
With a wet start to the race, it was no surprise that all the cars were starting on intermediate tyres. In a bold move, Antonio Giovinazzi opted to pit for slick tyres at the end of the formation lap. As the lights went out and the pack filtered into the first corner, there was absolute carnage.
Valtteri Bottas, who had fallen back after an awfully slow start, ran into the back of the McLaren of Lando Norris. In turn, Norris then slid across the track and into the side of Max Verstappen. Verstappen and Norris both rejoined the track, but their cars were badly damaged. Bottas simultaneously ran into the side of Sergio Perez, ultimately ending both their races. Lance Stroll had left it too late on the brakes, and tried to avoid a collision, but it was to no avail. The Canadian ended up crashing into the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Leclerc in turn clipped Daniel Ricciardo and sent the second McLaren spinning.
The yellow flags were out and were immediately followed by the Safety Car being deployed. The cameras showed a deeply disappointed Leclerc sitting atop his Ferrari, joining Bottas, Perez and Stroll on the list of retirees. The pack followed the Safety Car for two laps before the red flags waved and the race ground to a halt. There was just far too much debris to clear under Safety Car conditions. The remaining cars filtered into the pits to repair any damage and await the restart procedure. For Norris, it was game over, and he became the fifth retiree of the race during the red flag period.
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The Strangest Re-Start Ever
Eventually, the pit lane emptied as drivers headed back out onto the track to make their way around to the grid. With the sun now shining, almost everyone then immediately came back into the pit lane to switch onto slick tyres. As the pit crews leapt into action, Lewis Hamilton stayed out on track.
In one of the strangest scenes ever witnessed in Formula 1, Hamilton was the only driver on the grid for the restart. The lights went out and away he went – at least there was no chance of being mugged into the first corner. The rest of the pack pushed and shoved their way out of the pit lane as he passed, fighting for position before they had even rejoined the track. Amidst the chaos, Alfa Romeo released Kimi Räikkönen into the path of the Haas of Nikita Mazepin, ending Mazepin’s race.
Hamilton sounded despondent on the team radio, confirming “it’s dry” and fully aware that a huge error had been made by the team. At the end of the lap, he came into the pits to switch to the slick tyres, but the damage had already been done and he was now in last place. A few laps later, Hamilton managed to pass Antonio Giovinazzi for 13th, but he was clearly struggling to charge through the field. It was now Esteban Ocon leading the race, with Sebastian Vettel in second and Nicolas Latifi in third.
Early & Middle Stints
On lap 14, Verstappen tried to get around the outside of Mick Schumacher, but the door was slammed shut and the Red Bull had to go wide at Turn 1. At Turn 2, Verstappen tried around the outside once more, this time getting the move done (but not without some wheel-banging). On lap 16, Räikkönen was called in for a pit stop but had a 10-second time penalty to observe as a result of his earlier collision with Mazepin. The pain didn’t stop there, as when the mechanics were finally able to change the tyres, there was a problem with the front left brake that caused even further delay.
Up at the front of the field, Ocon was still leading the race. Vettel was hot on the heels of the Alpine, sensing that Ocon’s tyres were likely starting to give up. On lap 19, Hamilton came into the pits for fresh tyres. The following lap, Verstappen and Ricciardo also came in for their stops. Hamilton had undercut them both, and was now in 10th.
At the end of lap 36, Vettel came in for his pit stop. They needed the perfect stop, but there was a problem on the rear left tyre that cost Aston Martin approximately one second (which as we know, is a big chunk of time in F1). Fernando Alonso zipped past the pit exit to take second as Vettel rejoined the track. Lap 37 saw the Alpine mechanics come out for Ocon. The stop was a full second quicker than Vettel’s. Alonso was now leading the race, but Ocon had crucially managed to rejoin ahead of Vettel.
Final Push
Alonso pitted on lap 39, handing the lead back to teammate Ocon, before rejoining in fifth behind Sainz and Hamilton. On lap 48, Hamilton came in for another stop as part of his switched up strategy. When he came back out, he was behind Alonso. Despite his best efforts, it was 12 long laps before he managed to pass Alonso. The Spaniard locked up and Hamilton snatched up the opportunity to make his move, now back in fourth place.
With five laps to go, the chase was on. As they flew down the start-finish straight, Hamilton deployed DRS and swept past Sainz through the first corner. Sainz tried to claw third place back, but to no avail. On lap 69, Pierre Gasly came into the pits for new tyres – he was running in sixth, and there was a valuable championship point on offer for getting the fastest lap of the race.
Esteban Ocon crossed the line to take the win, with Vettel taking second and Hamilton third. It was a monumental moment for Alpine, and their sheer joy was felt across the world.
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Post-Race
What would the 2021 season be without some post-race drama added to the mix? During scrutineering, the stewards were unable to extract sufficient fuel from Vettel’s car. The FIA rules state that a one-litre sample must be provided. As this had not been possible, Vettel was disqualified. It meant that Hamilton was promoted to second, and Sainz to third. Aston Martin did try to appeal the disqualification, but later chose to withdraw their appeal.
Summary
The 2021 season was a bumper crop of dramatic races, dodgy decisions and bitter rivalries. But seeing Ocon on the top step of the podium was such a genuine and heart-warming moment. At the start of the weekend it was safe to say that Alpine would be happy with a points finish.
Not only was it Ocon’s first Formula 1 victory, it was also Alpine’s first race win. Add the fact that it was the first time that a French driver, driving for a French team, had won a Grand Prix since Olivier Panis’ win for Ligier at Monaco in 1996. Even more impressive was that it was the first race win for a French driver, driving in a French car powered by a French engine since Alain Prost drove his Renault to victory at the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix.
To celebrate a win is a racing driver’s dream, and Esteban Ocon deserved every single second of it.
Which Hungarian Grand Prix do you think is a race to remember? Let us know in the comments!