A pit proposal, Hamilton’s Hungarian legacy and a presidential photographer – 8 moments you may need missed from Hungary

Hungary gave us one final Grand Prix Sunday earlier than the summer season break, and what a race it was. The Hungaroring introduced wheel-to-wheel racing and loads of drama all through the 70-lap basic.

On the monitor, Lando Norris returned to the highest step of a Grand Prix podium for the primary time as a World Champion. Max Verstappen managed an excellent remaining stint on mushy tyres to take second forward of a charging Kimi Antonelli, who prolonged his title lead over Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Oscar Piastri’s tangle with Carlos Sainz, adopted by gearbox failure scuppered any hopes of a podium.

However, these weren’t the one tales from the Hungarian weekend – listed here are some moments you will have missed…

Hungary for love

Budapest could be a great getaway for {couples} due to its beautiful landmarks and gorgeous surroundings, and there will probably be loads of proposals there for that very purpose. But one couple had elsewhere in thoughts – the Haas storage on the Hungaroring.

Esteban Ocon was overjoyed to witness the couple’s particular second because the pair bought engaged in entrance of the VF-26 – congratulations to them, we’re certain their had a memorable weekend.

Hungary loves Hamilton

The Hungaroring is a favorite of Hamilton’s due to his 9 pole positions and eight wins, and to mark the fortieth anniversary of the Hungarian Grand Prix, there’s now a nook named after him.

Turn 2 is now often called ‘Hamilton’, with different corners named after legends like Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Jean Alesi, Michael Schumacher and Nelson Piquet.

The Briton was additionally requested to make a handprint in concrete which will probably be put in within the runoff space — a stunning contact and a everlasting legacy for the seven-time World Champion in Hungary.

World Cup debrief

Shortly after final week’s Belgian Grand Prix, some drivers have been in a rush to depart Spa and discover their nearest display to catch the World Cup remaining, with the stakes being excessive for 3 drivers particularly. Franco Colapinto, Sainz and Fernando Alonso had pores and skin within the sport between Argentina and Spain, and it was the Spaniards who have been left celebrating on Sunday night.

The first Thursday press convention in Hungary may have created some drama, with the three of them collectively only a few days after the sport, however everybody was well-behaved – as you’d anticipate.

Andrea who?

Antonelli has been testing the grid together with his pranks and sensible jokes all season lengthy, so it was about time a driver bought their very own again on the Italian. The Haas and Mercedes social media groups got here along with duties for his or her younger drivers. On the fan stage, Antonelli needed to seek advice from Ollie Bearman as ‘Bear’, whereas Bearman needed to name Antonelli ‘Andrea’.

The Briton caught to his job effectively, throwing the Mercedes man fully off, earlier than taking part in it off as if he had all the time known as the 19-year-old ‘Andrea’ ever since their F2 days. Just take a look at the confusion on Antonelli’s face…

Presidential images

The president of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, is a giant fan of motorsport, and whereas it wasn’t a shock to see him within the paddock, it wasn’t an everyday go to from a head of state.

Pavel additionally has an enormous ardour for images, so he arrived on the Hungaroring armed with FIA accreditation and a digital camera, spending the Grand Prix weekend as an official photographer. A fairly superior solution to rise up near the motion.

The Mercedes Gambit

It’s all the time good to see groups having fun with some downtime through the season. Mercedes took the chance to have a sit-down dinner to let off some steam throughout their title marketing campaign, that includes drivers, engineers, crew bosses, mechanics and extra.

By the appears to be like on everybody’s faces, it was a really gratifying night for the Brackley outfit.

Antonelli and Russell additionally took their title battle to a special sport, particularly chess, because the pair battled it out on their flight to Budapest.

This time, it was the Briton who got here out on prime after a prolonged battle – an excellent omen for the 28-year-old?

Special Safety Car

Mercedes has been offering F1 Safety Cars for the previous 30 years, and at Hungary this weekend, Bernd Maylander had a brand new one to drive, that includes a particular livery, too.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ is the 14th Mercedes Safety Car, and with over 600 horsepower underneath the watchful eye of Maylander, the grid has by no means been in higher palms. Even Antonelli and Russell needed to catch a glimpse on Thursday to test it out.

Albon’s achievement

Did you notice the one particular helmet for the Hungarian race weekend? Albon marked his one centesimal race with Williams with one other superior design to have fun a centenary with the British crew.