MOTORSPORT: Ocon snares first Formula 1 GP

UPDATE 02/08/2021 NOON: Running out of fuel has cost Sebastian Vettel and Aston Martin their superb second-place finish in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Under Formula 1 rules, cars must have a minimum of one litre of fuel in the tank after every race so it can be tested to ensure it complies with FIA regulations.

After Vettel’s car rolled to a stop in Hungary, forcing him to run back to the pits for the post-race celebrations, it had only 0.3 litres of fuel on board.

“After the race it was not possible to take a 1.0 litre sample of fuel from Car 5 [Vettel's Aston]. The team was given several opportunities to attempt to remove the required amount of fuel from the tank, however it was only possible to pump 0.3 litres out,” said the FIA stewards.

“During the hearing in presence of the FIA Technical Delegate and the FIA Technical Director the team principal of Aston Martin stated that there must be 1.44 litres left in the tank, but they are not able to get it out.

“The team was given several opportunities to attempt to remove the required amount of fuel from the tank, however it was only possible to pump 0.3 litres out. Given this situation, car No. 5 is not in compliance with the requirements of FIA Technical Regulations.”

As a result, the FIA scrubbed Vettel from the result and boosted Lewis Hamilton to second place and Carlos Sainz and Ferrari into third.

But it’s not over yet.

Aston Martin Racing plans to appeal against the decision and has begun to gather evidence.

“I can confirm an intent to appeal,” says Aston’s team principal, Otmar Szafnauer, talking to motorsport.com.

“So once we learn more, then if we have grounds we will appeal, and if not, we’ll drop it. But we have 96 hours.”

“The 18 points loss is disappointing for the team, but it doesn’t take away from an otherwise flawless drive from Sebastian,” says a team statement.

“Today we showed that our car has strong race pace. Onwards and upwards."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 02/08/2021 9:00am: Esteban Ocon and Alpine scored a stunning win in the Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix on a day when Lewis Hamilton returned to the lead in the 2021 F1 world championship but could only manage third place for Mercedes-AMG.

Former four-times champion Sebastian Vettel was an unlikely runner-up for Aston Martin on a day when a battle-scarred Max Verstappen could only manage a miserable 10th place for Red Bull and Daniel Ricciardo’s ongoing dramas at McLaren left him 12th at the flag.

The stars of the show were Fernando Alonso, who laid the foundation for Ocon’s win when he delayed Hamilton’s comeback drive from last place with some brilliant tactical driving, and a pre-race rain shower that destroyed the form book in Formula One.

As drivers raced into the slick first turn it was Valtteri Bottas who created a scene that looked more like a bowling alley, which was a move that earned him a five-place penalty for the next race in his Mercedes-AMG and led to the elimination of six cars including potential podium finishers Sergio Perez from Red Bull and Lando Norris from McLaren.

Lance Stroll didn’t help when he pinballed into the melee in his Aston Martin with a move that turned Ricciardo into one of the wounded.

The unbelievable restart after a stoppage to clear the track saw Hamilton sitting alone on pole position on wet-weather tyres as the remaining runners dived into the pits for a change to the slick tyres which were now essential on a track which had dried rapidly after the rain.

As Ocon jumped into the lead ahead of Vettel, after both had steered through the first-corner carnage, Hamilton began his tough comeback run and his title rival Verstappen had to make the best of a Red Bull which was the most damaged car of the lap-one survivors.

Somehow the Williams team, which had been perennial tail-enders, picked up their first points with Nicholas Latifi and George Russell in eighth and ninth respectively.

“It was a crazy race from the very start to the end. I was happy to manage the pace as best as possible at the front and it all worked out well today,” said Ocon, who has struggled many times this year.

“What a fight from Fernando too, his amazing teamwork at the end played a huge part in the win and it was great to share the moment with him.”

Alonso celebrated his teammate’s win with a side-by-side victory lap and a giant hug in the pit lane.

“I am so happy for him and for the guys. Sometimes we have been unlucky but today was one of the lucky days and we have to maximise these opportunities. We can execute races close to perfection if luck is with us,” he said.

Hamilton was totally spent after his comeback drive, but happy to have reclaimed the championship lead in a Mercedes that showed more speed in Hungary than Red Bull after recent updates to the car.

“I came into this weekend not knowing how we would perform and, considering the circumstances today, I'll take P3,” Hamilton said.

“Today was definitely tough. It’s crazy to think we were the only ones on the grid at the start, but these things happen in an unpredictable race, and we will learn any lessons that need to be learnt. I gave it everything today and I had nothing left at the end.”

Verstappen could only claim a single point, but he also benefited when another Red Bull driver – Pierre Gasly at AlphaTauri – clocked the quickest lap to snatch a point that looked destined for Hamilton.

“It was all out of our hands in the race and I can’t believe I got taken out for the second week running. The mechanics did what they could to get me back in the race but I was carrying a lot of damage on the car after the incident and it was super-difficult to drive,” said Verstappen.

“It’s really disappointing to only score one point but, on the other hand, I was incredibly lucky to continue after the crash. We have the summer break now but we will keep pushing, we will never give up.”

The scene is now set for a torrid battle through the back end of the 2021 championship, although Bottas knows he needs to make amends as he is only fourth in the championship and facing a potential sacking from Mercedes-AMG after another weekend when he was less than successful as Hamilton’s wing-man.

“It was my bad today and sometimes you have to hold your hands up,” said Bottas.

“It’s always difficult starting a race in those conditions. I had a poor start with lots of wheelspin off the line, lost a couple of places and then into turn one, I was right on the gearbox of Lando and locked the wheels. I misjudged the braking point.”

2021 Hungarian Grand Prix results:

2021 Formula 1 driver standings: