This is Ocon’s first ever Formula 1 victory
Formula One has finally been given the kick up the backside it’s been crying out for this year, with the championship as open as it’s been in some time. Lewis Hamilton has dominated for so long and although his mastery is marvellous to watch, seeing Max Verstappen not only pose a challenge but leading the standings at the moment is a much-needed jolt of excitement.
That being said, the Hungarian GP promised to be yet another neck and neck race, as Mercedes started one and two with Max was looking to pounce in P3. However, after an early mistake from teammate Valterri Bottas, the race opened with a multi-car collision that wiped out several drivers including McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Absolute carnage on the opening lap! 💥
📺: @SkySportsF1
💻: https://t.co/CkqLNAZAQx#SkyF1 #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/fBwebEE5nI— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 1, 2021
While things certainly didn’t go to plan for pretty much anyone on the grid, this is the kind of shenanigans you love to see at the start of an F1 race and certainly not the first time we’ve seen it happen at the Hungaroring.
That being said, there was one man who managed to make the most of the chaos and shift his way through the slew of sliding cars: Esteban Ocon.
After the Frenchman managed to duck out of the early crash and everyone returned to the pits following the red flag – all barring Hamilton, unscathed from earlier, who chose to stay out – he managed to take the lead as early as lap six before going on to display fantastic race pace in what could have been a difficult defensive display.
Spending 90% of the race in first, the 24-year-old managed to seem the Alpine home, picking up his first-ever win in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Incredible stuff.
BREAKING: @OconEsteban is a Formula 1 race winner for the first time!
He finishes ahead of Sebastian Vettel (P2) and Lewis Hamilton (P3) after a thrilling and dramatic race in Hungary 🏆#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/AGT2s3mWCO
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 1, 2021
Teammate and former world champion Fernando Alonso also got in the points and although Hamilton did manage to recover his race and finish third, seeing Sebastian Vettel secure another podium finish alongside the elated Ocon was the icing on the cake. In truth, it’s rare you’ll see a top ten like this again for some time:
🏁 TOP TEN (LAP 70/70) 🏁
Ocon
Vettel
Hamilton
Sainz
Alonso
Gasly
Tsunoda
Latifi
Russell
Verstappen#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/WXy4OPZ8P1— Formula 1 (@F1) August 1, 2021
You only had to see the celebrates in the paddock to see what it meant to him and his team; in fact, he was so over the moon he seemed to miss the pit lane!
History is made 😮
What a result, and what a race!
A first F1 win for Esteban Ocon and a first F1 win for Alpine 👏pic.twitter.com/syYtmnHBGu
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 1, 2021
We may not get to see this from Ocon every week – who is still somewhat limited by the capabilities of the car – but we absolutely love days like this and who knows what it can do for a driver? Just look at Pierre Gasly at Monza last season.
Topsy-turvy races like this are what we are here for and we’ll take lights out pandemonium every week, please. As for seeing George Russell in the points, we don’t know if we can handle this emotion every week.
We're all with you, @GeorgeRussell63! 🥺
🎥 x Duna TV#HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/GK8jKArzYG
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 1, 2021
Here’s hoping for a hair-raising end to the 2021 season!
