While McLaren and Russell duked it out at the front, the real intrigue unfolded mid-race in Budapest. As the narrow, twisty Hungaroring neutralizes pure power, strategy and precision shone—and the usual pecking order flipped upside down.
Aston Martin Roars: Alonso P5 & Stroll P7 — A Statement of Form
Aston Martin delivered their best team result of 2025, with Fernando Alonso finishing P5 and Lance Stroll P7, scoring 16 points — lifting them to P6 in the Constructors’ Championship ahead of Kick Sauber and Racing Bulls.
Fernando described it as the kind of weekend where “everything feels right”: strong qualifying, clean race craft, great tyre management and execution.
It was a vindication of their package upgrade—Hungary’s low-speed corners and brutal tyre wear finally played to their aero strength. Alonso added that the result fuels optimism for the second half of the season.
Bortoleto’s Breakthrough: Kick Sauber’s Rookie Scores P6
Gabriel Bortoleto, in only his rookie F1 season, delivered a stunning P6 finish, his career best. He jockeyed for position alongside world champions Alonso and Verstappen, even starting ahead on the grid before the race.
“Two-time world champ, four-time world champ, and I’m in the middle… it’s amazing.”
He admitted the race was a confidence explosion, saying: “We maximised the car.”
This result brings Sauber’s total to within striking distance of Racing Bulls in the Constructors’ fight.
Lawson vs Verstappen: Racing Bulls’ Triumph
Liam Lawson continued his strong form, finishing P8, ahead of Max Verstappen, who limped home in P9. It was the first time this season that Lawson beat Verstappen when both finished. Maxi struggled in a train of midfield cars and complained post-race about a difficult weekend plagued by grip and balance issues.
(“high speed was okay, but low speed wasn’t good… stuck in between cars”—Verstappen on team radio)
Lawson described himself as “surprised” by the result and hinted that more pace was on the table.
Racing Bulls claimed maximum value, doubling consecutive points finishes and outpacing Sauber by a narrow margin heading into the break.
The Midfield Order: Aston Martin, Sauber, Racing Bulls Shine
| Team | Finishers | Points Scored | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Martin | Alonso P5, Stroll P7 | 16 | Best result of season; gained momentum |
| Sauber | Bortoleto P6, Hulkenberg P13 | 8 | Rookie delivers; flips mid-pack order |
| Racing Bulls | Lawson P8, Hadjar P11 | 4 | Lawson beats Verstappen; continues consistency |
What It Means After the Break
With the mid-season break now underway, this result sets up several key narratives:
Aston Martin’s resurgence: They leap up into P6 in the Constructors’ standings—just 18 points behind Williams and firmly in the fight for more consistent scoring.
Sauber’s rise: Bortoleto’s haul moves them above Racing Bulls—showing momentum from development and rookie confidence.
Racing Bulls’ consistency: Lawson remains a threat; outscoring Red Bull’s number two driver two weekends in a row cements his case for a full-time seat next year.
Red Bull’s instability: Verstappen’s ninth and Tsunoda’s invisibility highlight systemic car issues that the new leadership must fix before Zandvoort.
Championship Context: Big Picture Still Clear
At the front, McLaren continue their dominance with Norris’s win and Piastri second—Russell slots into third—and Ferrari and Mercedes fight behind. Aston Martin and Sauber, however, leveraged midfield chaos—and astute strategy—to gain critical ground.
Alonso’s energy and Bortoleto’s breakthrough signal that the midfield battle is evolving fast. For the top teams, Hungary was business as usual. For the rest, it was validation—and motivation.
Looking Ahead: Post-Summer Stakes
As F1 picks up again at Zandvoort later this month:
-
Expect Aston Martin to push for stability and momentum in midfield.
-
Sauber will bank on keeping Bortoleto’s confidence high and look for more points.
-
Racing Bulls will hope Lawson cements his seat with more outperformance.
-
Mercedes and Ferrari need to tighten up strategy and performance—especially Ferrari following their misfires.
Meanwhile, Red Bull must find a spark or risk letting McLaren disappear with the title under the new hybrid-power regulations arriving in 2026.
Final Word
Hungary offered more than just Norris’s headline win—it reshuffled the midfield battle entirely.
-
Aston snatched their best result of the season.
-
Bortoleto proved Sauber can fight above their weight.
-
Lawson outdid Verstappen and seized Red Bull’s second-best finishes.
As F1 heads into the break, the spotlight shifts from pure dominance to rising challengers—and where momentum matters as much as performance.
