THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX : ANOTHER WIN FOR VERSTAPPEN, BUT MAXED BY HAMILTON, AS LECLERC FADED!

 

So, yes, it really is the case that Formula 1 grand prix races have not been as they used to be last year and several years before. 

At least in some significant respects, most noticeably being the Team Mercedes' pedestrianesque start to the 2022 Season, and the absence of the often, frequently exclaimed refrain of "go Lewis; another great win", from his Team. 

Similarly has the voice of Hamilton's detractors with their regular refrain of "it is all down to Lewis' car why he keeps winning races and championships, been stilled or replaced with cries of how the par excellence race is not as great as he has been painted. 

As if the only mark of greatness, is the kind where the racer is able to race and win races with a car without similar pace to its nearest rivals and where the racer does not have to overcome the challenges of poor race strategies and the adverse interventions of the gods.

Indeed, "go Lewis" has, understandably, been replaced with 'go Max' or 'go Charles.'  

When we hear 'Go Lewis', it has tended to be an acknowledgement of his and Team Mercedes' progress and achievement in getting the car towards optimum performance and competitiveness.  Rather than denoting them winning a race. 

An achievement which has still eluded Team Mercedes in the current season.

But not for long, if Hamilton, Russell and Team Mercedes are able to maintain and improve on the performance they have displayed during the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.

As Hamilton and Russell were abe to take their gradual but consistent performance a step further, by making it a P.2 and P.3 finish behind Verstappen, in the race at the Hungaroring Circuit.

Hamilton put in a sterling performance, having started the race on P.7, but, not having the consistently faster pace of Verstappen, he was not able keep Max in check, and prevent him from promoting himself fromP.10 to P.1. 

While try as he did, Russell found that he did not have the pace to convert his first Grand Prix Pole into a race win.

Where there is no doubt, however, is in the fact that Team Mercedes have improved their cars significantly and substantially since the beginning of the Season. 

And that, providing they are able to gain those vital few tenths of a second pace separating them from Red Bull and Ferrari by the next race, they could be rewarded with their first win of the 2022 Season. 

With or without the interventions of the gods, but with the required level of performance from Team and racers.

But for now, A Very Big Congratulations to Team Red Bull and Max Verstappen, and to Team Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, for making it to P.1, 2 and 3, respectively.

A Big Thank You to all the racers and their teams for providing us with another exciting and thrilling Grand Prix. Enjoy your summer break and come back refreshed and ready for the second half of the Season, guys!!