Hungarian Grand Prix 2021 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Esteban Ocon claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory in a chaotic Hungarian Grand Prix that saw Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas cause a massive first-lap pile-up and Lewis Hamilton extend his championship lead after Max Verstappen suffered heavy damage. The dramatic race at the Hungaroring delivered one of the season's most unpredictable results and swung the title momentum firmly back toward Hamilton.

The race erupted into chaos at the first corner when Bottas locked up in wet conditions and plowed into the back of Lando Norris, triggering a chain reaction that collected Sergio Perez and both Red Bulls made contact. Verstappen sustained significant floor damage that compromised his race, while Bottas was issued a five-place grid penalty for the next race. The incident brought out a red flag, and when the race restarted, a bizarre scene unfolded: Hamilton was the only driver to start on the grid after everyone else pitted for slick tires during the stoppage, and he had to pit at the end of the formation lap, dropping to last place.

Ocon brilliantly held off a charging Sebastian Vettel in the closing laps to secure Alpine's first victory, while Hamilton recovered superbly from last to finish second, with Carlos Sainz third for Ferrari. Verstappen salvaged a crucial ninth place despite his damaged car and tire strategy issues. Hamilton's recovery meant he took the championship lead for the first time since Spain, now ahead by eight points. The result demonstrated that the championship battle remained wide open heading into the summer break, with neither team able to establish sustained dominance.