🏎️ F1 - The day Hamilton started alone

The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix produced one of the most bizarre moments in modern Formula 1.

The race started on a wet track, but after Valtteri Bottas triggered a huge first-lap crash, it was red-flagged. During the stoppage, the rain disappeared, the sun came out and the track dried rapidly. By the time the drivers headed out for the second formation lap, it was obvious that slick tyres were the faster choice.

Initially, nobody dared gamble on slicks. But by the end of the formation lap, the entire field had changed its mind and dived into the pits. Everyone except the race leader, Lewis Hamilton.

What followed remains one of the most surreal images in modern Formula 1. As the lights went out, Hamilton sat alone on the grid with nobody alongside him, while the other 19 cars started from the pit lane.

Mercedes finally called Hamilton in for slick tyres at the end of the lap, but the damage was already done. A certain victory had turned into a recovery drive, while Esteban Ocon went on to claim his and Alpine’s first Formula 1 win.

Spa finally marked the end of Aston Martin's disastrous first-spec car. More than four seconds off the pace and two laps down at the finish, it had reached the end of the road.

Hungary marks the beginning of Plan B.

The first phase of Aston Martin's B-spec package debuts this weekend, bringing a lighter crash-tested chassis, revised aerodynamics and suspension changes. It is the team's biggest upgrade of the season.

The Hungaroring offers the perfect test. Its slow, twisty layout reduces the power unit deficit, allowing Aston Martin to judge whether the aerodynamic changes have genuinely solved the car's biggest weaknesses.

Mike Krack says the factory has been working "flat-out" to prepare the new package and is now "quite confident." Lance Stroll has been even more direct, admitting the current car has "no strengths."

Aston Martin's season is already beyond saving. The B-spec isn't about 2026 anymore—it's about proving Adrian Newey can still build a winning Formula 1 car. Fail here, and the biggest name in F1 design will face the toughest questions of his career.

The Hungaroring has been a permanent fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since 1986 and has produced some of the sport's most memorable races. Although it looks simple on paper, it is one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, rewarding precision, grip and commitment over outright power.

Here are five things worth knowing before this weekend's race:

✅ Current layout: The Hungaroring is now in its fifth configuration, measuring 4.381 km.

✅ Lap record: Lewis Hamilton set the current lap record in 2020 with a 1:13.447.

✅ First poles: Both Max Verstappen and George Russell claimed their maiden Formula 1 pole positions here.

✅ First winners: Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri all celebrated their maiden Grand Prix victories at the Hungaroring.

✅ The ultimate grip test: Former F1 strategist Ruth Buscombe calls the Hungaroring the most grip-sensitive circuit on the calendar:

Last year, Charles Leclerc claimed pole position, while Lando Norris converted it into victory on Sunday.

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