The Hungaroring once again delivered a gripping Formula 1 race, where Kruimel took his sixth win of the season amidst a battle-packed race weekend. The Aston Martin driver’s commanding victory extended his championship lead, while The Captain managed a respectable third, albeit without challenging the front-runners.
The race held special significance given last year’s controversial Hungarian GP, where The Captain claimed his first-ever F1 win after an incident involving Kruimel. While The Captain has since expressed regret over the circumstances of that victory, the lingering rivalry between the two Dutchmen added an extra layer of drama to this weekend.
Qualifying Drama: The Captain Takes Pole, but Penalty Sets Him Back
Qualifying saw The Captain shine, delivering a stellar lap to edge out Kruimel for pole position by just over two-tenths. However, controversy erupted when The Captain was handed a five-place grid penalty for allegedly impeding Kruimel during the session. Aston Martin protested fiercely, though Kruimel wasn’t on a flying lap at the time.
As a result, Kruimel inherited pole position, joined on the front row by his teammate Fernando Alonso. The Captain started sixth, behind George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, and Sergio Perez.
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Kruimel (Aston Martin) – 1:13.701
- Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:13.846
- Russell (McLaren) – 1:13.877
- Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1:13.973
- Perez (McLaren) – 1:13.991
- The Captain (Mercedes) – 1:13.487 (penalty applied)
Race Recap: Kruimel Flawless, The Captain Battles Through Traffic
The race began with all drivers opting for medium tires, and Kruimel made an excellent getaway, holding off Alonso into Turn 1. The Captain, starting P6, lost out initially but recovered to reclaim the position from Charles Leclerc with a bold move into the first corner.
Early Laps: DRS Trains and Bold Moves
By Lap 4, The Captain began his charge, overtaking Verstappen for P5 with a daring move on the inside of Turn 1. The Mercedes driver was relentless, attacking Russell for P4 a lap later. After a failed attempt at Turn 1, The Captain executed a clean pass at Turn 2, showcasing his aggressive but calculated driving style.
At the front, Kruimel and Alonso pulled away from Hamilton, forming a leading duo. Despite being within DRS range, Alonso’s superior pace ensured Kruimel could not mount a serious challenge.
The Pit Stops: Undercut Tactics Shake Up the Field
The pit window opened on Lap 10, with The Captain and Kruimel diving in for fresh hard tires. Kruimel’s early stop aimed to undercut Alonso, but traffic thwarted his strategy. Rejoining in P16 amidst slower cars yet to pit, Kruimel lost valuable seconds navigating through the pack. Meanwhile, The Captain, emerging in clean air in P18, capitalized on the undercut, closing the gap to the leaders.
When Alonso and Hamilton pitted on Lap 12, Alonso narrowly retained his position ahead of Kruimel, who was now in P2. However, by Lap 14, Kruimel used DRS to overtake Alonso down the main straight, reclaiming the lead.
The Captain, benefiting from clean air during his pit stint, emerged in P3, albeit over four seconds behind the top two. Despite strong pace, he couldn’t close the gap and instead focused on maintaining position ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc.
The Closing Stages: Controlled Drives at the Front
The second half of the race offered little drama at the front. Kruimel managed the gap to Alonso, with the Aston Martin duo showing dominant pace throughout. The Captain, unable to match their speed, focused on holding off a late charge from Leclerc, who had overtaken Verstappen.
Ultimately, Kruimel crossed the finish line to secure his 23rd career victory and his sixth of the season. Alonso followed closely in P2, keeping Kruimel under pressure until the final lap. The Captain rounded out the podium, finishing over 10 seconds behind the Aston Martins but two seconds ahead of Leclerc.
Post-Race Reactions
Kruimel:
“This was exactly the result I needed after last weekend’s disappointment. The car felt incredible today, and I’m proud of the team’s work. The undercut didn’t work as planned, but we adapted and brought it home. It feels great to win here after what happened last year.”
The Captain:
“I gave it everything today, but the pace of the Aston Martins was just too strong. Still, another podium is a good result, especially after the penalty in qualifying. There’s more to come—we’ll keep pushing.”
Championship Standings Update
Kruimel’s victory extends his lead in the drivers’ championship, with Alonso solidifying his position in second. The Captain, despite a strong weekend, remains third but sees Alonso inches away in the standings.
Looking Ahead to Spa
The F1 circus now heads to Spa-Francorchamps, a track where both Kruimel and The Captain delivered standout performances last season. While Kruimel will aim to repeat his victory from 2023, The Captain hopes to leverage his upgraded Mercedes to challenge the Aston Martins more effectively.
Can The Captain close the gap at Spa, or will Kruimel continue his march toward a second championship? Stay tuned as the battle intensifies in Belgium.
