The Hungarian Grand Prix is a historic event for Red Bull Racing, as their star driver Max Verstappen aims to break McLaren’s long-standing record of 11 consecutive wins in Formula 1. Red Bull’s remarkable run in the 2023 season has seen Verstappen secure victory in the last six races, leading an impressive 248 consecutive laps from May’s Miami Grand Prix to July’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Having already equalled McLaren’s consecutive wins record, which has remained unbroken since 1988, Verstappen and Red Bull are on the verge of setting a new milestone of 12 straight victories. Such a feat would be unprecedented and a testament to the incredible performance of the RB19 car and Verstappen’s driving prowess.
While Red Bull has been unstoppable so far, Formula 1 has a history of throwing surprises, just like Mercedes experienced during their dominant period from 2014 to 2016. The Mercedes team narrowly missed matching McLaren’s record due to various factors, including reliability issues and occasional clashes between their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Mercedes’ failures to secure 11 consecutive wins were often seized upon by Red Bull, who capitalized on their vulnerabilities during those years. As history repeats itself, Red Bull’s rivals, including Mercedes, Aston Martin, Ferrari, and McLaren, are determined to deny them the opportunity to make history at the Hungaroring.
With their star driver Hamilton, who holds an impressive record of eight victories at the Hungaroring, Mercedes is cautiously optimistic about their chances. Team principal Toto Wolff acknowledges the unpredictable nature of F1 races and emphasizes the need for continuous improvement to challenge Red Bull’s dominance.
On the other hand, Aston Martin struggled in recent races but is hopeful that the characteristics of the Hungaroring track will better suit their AMR23 car. Fernando Alonso’s team believes the change of direction and ability to ride kerbs will play to their strengths.
A victory in Hungary has been long overdue for Ferrari, but their race pace and tire wear challenges have been consistent hurdles. The narrow operating window of the Ferrari car and the introduction of new Pirelli tires have raised questions about their competitiveness.
Meanwhile, McLaren has been making strides with recent upgrades, with Lando Norris securing an impressive second-place finish at Silverstone. However, Norris acknowledges that the team still struggles in slow-speed corners, despite improvements in other areas.
As the Hungarian Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on Red Bull as they attempt to make history while their rivals gear up to halt their relentless march towards consecutive victories. The weekend promises exciting and unpredictable racing as Formula 1 continues to captivate fans with its thrilling twists and turns.
