Hungarian GP: Hamilton hunts down Verstappen, Mick Schumacher wins his first F2 race
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Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton kisses his F1 Hungarian GP trophy in Budapest, August 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton kisses his F1 Hungarian GP trophy in Budapest, August 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Mercedes' British racer Lewis Hamilton went against his usual nature and turned predator on Sunday to hunt down Red Bull's Max Verstappen and win the Hungarian Grand Prix.

When Hamilton had tried and failed to get past Verstappen midway through the race on the Hungaroring - one of F1's hardest tracks for overtaking - it seemed that Verstappen would secure a victory from his first pole position for an eighth career win and third in four races.

But then Mercedes showed the strength in depth of its team, making a risky but ultimately brilliant strategy call to bring Hamilton in for a second tire change on Lap 49 of 70. In the pit wall battle, Mercedes punched Red Bull and unleashed Hamilton on fresh tires.

He chased Verstappen like a silver bullet around the 4.4-km track, at times shaving two seconds per lap off Verstappen's 20-second lead. Red Bull decided against giving Verstappen new tires and left him to rely only on his wits to fend off Hamilton, a five-time champion considered among the greatest drivers in F1 history.

"Lewis was on fire today," Verstappen said. "I was pushing flat out."

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the F1 Hungarian GP in Budapest, August 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the F1 Hungarian GP in Budapest, August 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

'Mad Max' no more as 'Mature Max' takes Hungary heartbreak in stride

Verstappen lived up to his hype on Sunday - fast, big talking and realistic to the point of bluntness - with a performance full of maturity.

The remarkably adroit Verstappen - who has great composure at 20 years old - could not hold off Hamilton.

By Lap 67, Hamilton moved menacingly alongside and flew to the 81st victory of his F1 career to move only 10 wins behind Michael Schumacher.

"I honestly didn't know if I could (reduce) the gap," a jubilant Hamilton said. "I kept pushing and pushing. They were like qualifying laps every lap."

Verstappen, who took a bonus point for the fastest lap, acknowledged Mercedes made the right call.

"We were just not fast enough. I tried everything I could," Verstappen said. "Congrats to Lewis, he was pushing me really hard. I like that."

For Verstappen, who turns 21 next month, it was a 21st consecutive race in the top five, including 12 podiums. He is only seven points behind Bottas in third place.

Mick Schumacher celebrates winning his first F2 race at the Hungarian GP in Budapest, August 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Mick Schumacher celebrates winning his first F2 race at the Hungarian GP in Budapest, August 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Mick Schumacher wins his first F2 race

Meanwhile, the Hungaroring circuit witnessed a brilliant victory from Mick Schumacher as he won his first F2 race at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The son of legend Michael Schumacher started from pole position for the Prema Racing team and finished the 28-lap race ahead of Japanese driver Nobuharu Matsushita and Brazilian Sergio Sette Camara.

"I am just so happy. (It was) quite hard. Obviously the tires were degrading," Schumacher said. "Amazing race."

Michael Schumacher, the seven-time F1 champion, won four races on the same Hungaroring circuit - in 1994, 1998, 2001 and 2004 - among his record 91 in F1.

The younger Schumacher is racing in his first F2 season. The 20-year-old German is part of Ferrari's driver academy and is tipped for a future move into F1. He test-drove a Ferrari F1 car this year in Bahrain.

"Having the first victory in F2 is a great thing," he said. "Whether I go to F1 next year or in two years or maybe three, I don't know."

His father drove his last race for Ferrari in 2006, at Interlagos in Brazil. He retired but returned to F1 with Mercedes for three more seasons in 2010. An avid skier, Schumacher was skiing with his son in the French resort of Meribel in December 2013 when he fell and hit the right side of his head on a rock, splitting open the helmet.

Doctors worked to remove blood clots from his brain, but some were left because they were too deeply embedded. Schumacher's condition stabilized after he was placed in a drug-induced coma, from which he later emerged. But updates on his health have been scarce since he left the hospital in September 2014 to be cared for privately at his Swiss home by Lake Geneva.

Source(s): AP ,AFP