Chaotic F1 race sees bizarre Lewis Hamilton start as first-time winner triumphs

The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, held on 1 August at the Hungaroring, was one of the most eventful races of that season, largely because of what unfolded in the opening corners on a damp track.

Rain before the start left the circuit slippery, and as the field funnelled into Turn 1, Valtteri Bottas locked up and ploughed into the back of Lando Norris's McLaren. 

The impact sent Norris into Max Verstappen's Red Bull before Bottas slid further into Sergio Perez, eliminating both Bottas and Perez on the spot. 

Separately, Lance Stroll braked far too late, collected Charles Leclerc's Ferrari, and sent the Monegasque spinning into Daniel Ricciardo. Five drivers were out by the end of the opening lap, prompting an immediate red flag.

But what followed at the restart was almost surreal, as the track had dried considerably during the stoppage, and all 14 remaining runners bar one dived into the pit lane at the end of the formation lap to switch to slick tyres. 

The exception was Lewis Hamilton, whose Mercedes team opted to keep him out on intermediates to protect track position. The result was Hamilton lining up entirely alone on the grid for the standing restart. 

It proved to be a costly misjudgement as Mercedes had to pit him a lap later, dropping him to the back of the pack.

The beneficiary was Esteban Ocon, who inherited the lead and, with Fernando Alonso playing a crucial defensive role behind him against Hamilton's charge, held on to secure his maiden F1 victory for Alpine. 

Sebastian Vettel crossed the line second for Aston Martin but was later disqualified when the FIA could not extract the required one-litre fuel sample from his car. 

Hamilton, after a recovery drive from last, was promoted to second, with Carlos Sainz completing the podium in third. 

Verstappen, meanwhile, limped home ninth in the revised classification, collecting just two points in what proved a pivotal moment in a title battle that would go down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.