NIFTY 50 FOR MARQUEZ
Mercedes 2-stop trick helps Brit catch Max
A MERCEDES masterstroke helped Lewis Hamilton overturn a 21-second deficit to stun Max Verstappen and win an epic Hungarian GP.
Verstappen looked set to convert his maiden pole position into a second win in a row for Red Bull before Mercedes ambitiously rolled the dice with a two-stop strategy.
Hamilton, who started the race in third behind Verstappen and team-mate Valtteri Bottas, was within one second of the Dutchman when he was called in for a second pit stop.
The Silver Arrows hoped that a switch to fresh tyres would provide the British star with a chance to usurp Verstappen late on.
Hamilton left the pit lane 21 seconds behind Verstappen with 21 laps remaining – and the five-time world champion lit up the timesheets before catching up with his rival.
The tactical switch by Formula One’s dominant team proved inspired as Hamilton wiped out the deficit to clinch his record-extending seventh triumph at the Hungaroring.
It was his eighth victory of the season, extending his world championship lead over Bottas to 62 points.
Hamilton said: “It was difficult to get by, the defence was great and I didn’t know if I could catch that gap. I just kept my head down and each lap was like a qualifying lap.
“I know if Niki [Lauda] was today he would take his hat off.
“I feel really grateful for the day and the team, who continue to push me to the limits and take a chance on me.
“We’ve been together for seven years but every win feels brand new.”
Hamilton had put his Mercedes in with a chance of victory after passing Bottas on the opening lap and was on Verstappen’s tail for most of the race.
His inspired fightback owed much to the brave call from Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles.
It was a heartbreaking finale for Verstappen, who was in imperious form for much of the race before Hamilton made his move on lap 67.
“We were just not fast enough but I tried everything I could on those hard tyres to stay alive,” said Verstappen.
“But to finish second with the fastest lap, it was a good weekend overall.”
Sebastian Vettel finished third ahead of Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton heads into the summer break with a huge buffer over Bottas, who finished eighth after stopping for a new front wing following a collision with Leclerc on the opening lap. here MARC MARQUEZ extended his MotoGP championship lead as he celebrated his 50th class victory at Brno.
Despite a mistake which almost threw him off his Repsol Honda on lap 12 of yesterday’s race, the defending champion took a lights-to-flag win ahead of title rival Andrea Dovizioso.
Marquez, who moved 63 points clear at the top, said: “It’s been a crazy weekend, so I am very happy to come away with this special win.”
After starting on pole Marquez controlled the race from the front as the track dried the race, with Marquez’s lead only once looking under threat when he had a wobble on the 12th lap and almost crashed.
But he went on to beat Ducati rider Dovizioso by 2.452secs, with Miller eventually taking third ahead of Rins.
Marquez added: “I had to really concentrate at the beginning because there were still some wet parts in turn one.
“I knew I had to just keep pushing and I am very happy to now get my 50th class win.”
Britain’s Cal Crutchlow took fifth aboard the LCR Honda Castrol after fighting his way through from 11th.