The Hungarian Grand Prix demanded grit and damage limitation, and both drivers delivered. Kimi Antonelli fought his way to a podium in P3, while George Russell battled back to P7 after a costly setback at the start.
Both cars lined up on Medium tires, with Russell in P6 and Antonelli in P7. Russell’s race was compromised immediately when anti‑stall triggered off the line, dropping him to the back of the field. Antonelli, meanwhile, gained early ground to P6 and executed a measured two‑stop strategy, switching to Hard tires at both stops.
By carefully managing tire life, he built a decisive offset against rivals and cycled through to third. Despite an ill‑timed Virtual Safety Car that handed Lewis Hamilton fresh tires and a late charge, Antonelli defended superbly to secure the final podium spot.
Russell’s recovery drive was equally impressive. From last place, he carved through the field with strong pace, also on a two‑stop strategy.
He closed rapidly on Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull in the final laps but fell just short, settling for seventh and salvaging valuable points.
The team heads into the summer break leading both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships, a position that reflects resilience and consistency across the first half of the season. Focus now turns to Zandvoort, where the fight resumes next month.
Driver Results
| Driver | Grid | Result | Fastest Lap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | P7 | P3 | 1:22.415 |
| George Russell | P6 | P7 | 1:22.589 |
| Driver | Start | Stop 1 | Stop 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | Medium | Hard (L22) | Hard (L53) |
| George Russell | Medium | Hard (L27) | Hard (L54) |
Driver Quotes
Kimi Antonelli: “It was not an easy race today. Overtaking was difficult, even with pace in hand. The two‑stop gave us the tire offset we needed, and despite the Virtual Safety Car bringing Lewis right onto us, we held firm for P3.
The first half of the season has exceeded expectations, but the second half will be intense — we’re ready for it.”
George Russell: “The start ruined our chances of fighting for the podium. The anti‑stall kicked in and dropped me to the back, which was frustrating. Still, our pace was strong, and we fought back to P7.
It’s been a rollercoaster first half of the season, so I’m looking forward to resetting over the break and coming back stronger.”
Both drivers showed resilience in Budapest. Antonelli’s podium was a reward for measured tyre management and strong defense under pressure, while Russell’s fightback highlighted the car’s pace despite early adversity. The anti‑stall issue was a team problem, and reliability remains a key focus heading into the second half of the season.
The summer shutdown offers a chance to regroup, analyze, and prepare for the battles ahead. With both championships currently led, the team knows consistency and reliability will be decisive in the run‑in.