The Hungarian GP 2023 is underway and it has already produced some of the most exciting laps we have seen this season so far. Lewis Hamilton started the race on pole, his first since Saudi Arabian GP 2021, and 104th overall. Starting right behind him was Max Verstappen and the two McLarens of Piastri and Norris. As anticipated as the race was, it didn’t fail to give the drama right from the inception.
Mercedes W-14 of Hamilton got a great start but he could not keep Verstappen at bay for long. The Dutchman took the inside line in the first corner and made a lunge at the former rival. To no one’s surprise, he made the move stick and got into the lead on the very first lap. Moreover, as Hamilton went a bit wide into turn 1, it opened up just enough space for Oscar Piastri to overtake him as well.
Taking the same racing line, Norris also got past the Briton. As of lap 15/70, Verstappen leads the race with Piastri, Norris, and Hamilton following him in the same order. While things were spicy at the front, the action at the back of the grid turned out to be a total fiasco.
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Both Alpines out from the Hungarian GP
The Hungarian GP turned out to be a nightmare for multiple drivers right at the beginning. Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu, who had a great qualifying here on Saturday had a terrible start putting him at the back of the grid immediately. Not just that, in an attempt to make it back, Zhou rammed into the back of Alpha Tauri of Yuki Tsunoda.
The Japanese in turn collected Ocon who further ran into the rear of teammate Pierre Gasly streaming around the outside. For a brief yet impactful moment, the two alpines got totally in contact causing sufficient damage. Ocon lost his winglet and had to limp the car back into the pits. Meanwhile, Gasly has significant damage to his rear wing.
Both the Alpines, though not at fault, had to retire from the Hungarian GP. Apart from that, Daniel Ricciardo also got thrown into the mix in this first-lap debacle and is now running far behind his starting position. However, with ample laps still to go, it will be interesting to see how the race unfolds.
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