The second half of the 2024 season kicks off with a trip to Budapest, Hungary, and the Hungaroring. Famed as ‘Monaco without the walls’, the Hungaroring features challenging high-speed corners and twisting turns, which render it hard for cars to follow one another. There is only one real overtaking opportunity, down into turn 1, which nowadays is aided by a lengthy DRS zone. The brave may attempt to send it down the inside or outside of turn 2, and get their elbows out into turn 3.

Turn 4 is a fast snap to the left, and leads into the winding, bending sequence of turns 5 through to 11, corners where it can be easy to lose the car and drift into a barrier. A driver must concentrate for 70 laps around this deceptively fast track.

Qualifying delivered some of the normal, and some of the unusual. It was another Red Bull front row lockout, but this time, Sergio Perez was the man to claim pole, marking one of the rare occasions he had outpaced Verstappen, but would he be able to use his qualifying performance to his advantage?

Early on, not only did Perez lead, but Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz got ahead of Verstappen, and the Spaniard was the one to exert pressure in the first few laps. As is typical of the Hungarian circuit, Sainz trailed Perez, but could not find a way to squeeze by the Mexican, at least at first. After a few laps, and with DRS, Sainz would snatch the lead into turn one, Further back, the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc grappled with the Racing Bull of Daniel Ricciardo, and could not find a way past, despite all the performance of his superior car.

Was it possible that we would see a new winner in 2024? The short answer would be… no. Whilst Verstappen – not for the first time – had come under threat in the opening laps, he would, as he so often does, reassert himself. Before long, he had dispatched both Sainz and Perez, and he would push on to take yet another victory – his 10th of the season – with his usual, relaxed ease.

Behind him, there was plenty of action on track. Theo Pourchaire had taken a grid penalty for a new ERS unit, and started at the back. He would scythe his way through the field, pulling off dive after dive into turn 1 to climb up through the field. Old rivals Alonso and Hamilton would go toe-to-toe for several laps, with Alonso squirming to get the Mercedes, and struggling to find a way. Kevin Magnussen would send his Haas wide and smash his front wing to pieces, ending his race halfway through. Perez would slip down the order, in a disappointing contrast to his qualifying performance.

An awkward moment ensued for Ricciardo, in the latter stages, when lapping the Sauber of Zhou. Zhou half-hearted yielded to get out of the way, and Ricciardo would collect damage in a coming-together with the younger man. It is certainly plausible – and Ricciardo would argue – that the incident would cost him points. The second Sauber of Bottas would retire on lap 45, marking a miserable afternoon for the lowly outfit.

It proved a difficult afternoon for Perez and for Sainz. Both slipped out of podium opportunities, whilst Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc made it to the steps. The consequence of this on the championship standings?

Verstappen’s lead has grown to 109 points, though now from Norris, who has overhauled Leclerc. There is definitely pace about the McLaren, and it seems they are on an upward trajectory.

Red Bull now lead Ferrari by 86 points, and it seems they are unlikely to be caught.

Next up, the famous circuit of Spa, Belgium, the final race ahead of the summer break.

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