First-Lap Contact Between Wehrlein and Norris Decides Hungarian Grand Prix, Vettel Wins

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Diff.
1	88	Robert Kubica		1:22.765	1:22.433
2	47	Lando Norris		1:23.079	1:23.360	+0.646
3	39	Sho Tsuboi		1:23.237	1:23.194	+0.761
4	18	Sebastian Vettel		1:23.318	1:23.636	+0.885
5	23	Jules Bianchi		1:24.357	1:24.120	+1.687
6	56	Einar Ármannsson		1:24.322	1:24.614	+1.889
7	20	Kevin Magnussen		1:24.348	1:24.539	+1.915
8	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1:24.763	1:24.590	+2.157
9	7	Charles Leclerc		1:24.868	1:26.011	+2.435
10	63	George Russell		1:25.429	1:25.152	+2.719
11	10	Alessio Lorandi		1:25.400	1:25.157	+2.724
12	1	Victoria Desai		1:25.186	1:25.312	+2.753
13	57	Dean Stoneman		1:25.562	1:25.311	+2.263
14	60	Ritomo Miyata		1:25.399	1:25.762	+2.966
15	70	Pastor Maldonado		1:25.631	1:25.870	+3.198
16	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1:26.077	1:26.325	+3.644
17	26	Robert Shwartzman		1:26.147	1:27.155	+3.714
18	29	Roger Ibe		1:26.321	1:26.320	+3.887
19	33	Max Verstappen		1:26.480	1:27.176	+4.047
20	4	Robin Frijns		1:26.642	1:26.917	+4.209
21	95	Beitske Visser		1:27.357	1:27.613	+4.924
22	81	Malik Zidan		1:27.801	1:27.480	+5.047
23	80	Raven Roth		1:27.560	1:27.695	+5.127
24	98	Colton Herta		1:27.759	1:28.016	+5.326
25	11	Terry Hawkin		1:29.154	1:29.406	+6.721
26	21	Théo Pourchaire		1:29.547	1:29.963	+7.114

Report:

The last race before the summer break had the chance to really add a twist to the narrative of this season. Instead, the Hungarian Grand Prix became a sign that the sport did indeed need a break.

In a somewhat dry affair, contact between Pascal Wehrlein and Lando Norris in turn 1 was what ended up deciding the race in Sebastian Vettel’s favour. While Norris managed to claw back within 2.7 seconds of the German, the fact that Norris’s fastest lap of the race was only 0.001 seconds faster than Seb’s showed that the German had things under control.

Behind the Caterham duo, the final podium spot went to Jules Bianchi, who had a very uneventful race himself. A late sprint by Robert Kubica to get within ten seconds was the only event of note.

If anything, retirements are a more interesting narrative: Charles Leclerc looked strong in the early part of the race, but another motor issue took the Sauber driver out. Only a few laps before the end of the race, fifth-placed Einar Ármannsson retired, ensuring both Toyotas would score points as they made their way past a very strong Roger Ibe near the end.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1	18	Sebastian Vettel		63:17.342	4	10
2	47	Lando Norris		+2.622	2	8
3	23	Jules Bianchi		+31.151	5	6
4	88	Robert Kubica		+38.102	1	6
5	39	Sho Tsuboi		+54.207	3	4
6	10	Alessio Lorandi		+51.056	11	3
7	20	Kevin Magnussen		1 Lap	7	2
8	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1 Lap	8	1
9	29	Roger Ibe		1 Lap	18
10	70	Pastor Maldonado		1 Lap	15
11	26	Robert Shwartzman		1 Lap	17
12	33	Max Verstappen		1 Lap	19
13	63	George Russell		1 Lap	10
14	60	Ritomo Miyata		1 Lap	14
15	57	Dean Stoneman		1 Lap	13
16	81	Malik Zidan		1 Lap	22
17	95	Beitske Visser		1 Lap	21
18	80	Raven Roth		1 Lap	23
19	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		2 Laps	16
20	98	Colton Herta		2 Laps	24
21	11	Terry Hawkin		2 Laps	25
22	56	Einar Ármannsson		Motor	5
23	21	Théo Pourchaire		2 Laps	26
Ret	7	Charles Leclerc		Oil Leak	9
Ret	4	Robin Frijns		Transmission	20
Ret	1	Victoria Desai		Oil Leak	12

Fastest Lap:

Lando Norris – 1:25.556

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Roger Ibe – amazing drive in the still-struggling RB18 would have deserved points.

Reject Of The Race:

Ritomo Miyata – looked very uncompetitive in comparison to his Sauber teammate.