This archive report was first published on 4 August 2019.
On a sweltering afternoon in Budapest, with an air temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, Lewis Hamilton regained the momentum in the world championship with a thrilling win at the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 4, 2019.
Hamilton, the 34-year-old defending five-time world champion, started third on the grid in his Mercedes and stalked his 21-year-old Dutch rival Max Verstappen for most of the 70-lap contest.
Verstappen, who had secured his maiden pole position, led most of the race before his tyres began to fade, allowing Hamilton to make his move and take the lead on lap 67.
Hamilton's record seventh win in Hungary, his eighth of the season, and the 81st of his career, dealt a significant blow to Red Bull's hopes of securing a victory and increased his lead in the title race to 62 points before the European summer break.
Verstappen, who had been in a fierce battle with Hamilton, eventually finished 17.796 seconds behind in second place and set a record race fastest lap for the Hungaroring after a late pit-stop.
Sebastian Vettel took third place for Ferrari, ahead of his team-mate Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz of McLaren, and Pierre Gasly in the second Red Bull.
