Verstappen battles from 10th to win Hungarian GP

Red Bull driver and reigning champion Max Verstappen battled back from 10th on the grid after a difficult qualifying session Saturday to win the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring in Budapest on Sunday.

Verstappen's victory extends his drivers' championship lead over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who started second but slipped to sixth in another brutal showing for the Prancing Horses.

After overtaking Leclerc, Verstappen also spun out and gave the spot back at one point. However, the Dutch driver managed to keep it on track and retake the position for the win.

"Very tricky conditions out there but we had a really good strategy," Verstappen said. "And even with a 360 we won the race. It was a lot of fun out there."

Leclerc briefly held first on track, overtaking Russell after a battle that began on the opening lap. However, a pit strategy that saw the Monegasque forced to come in three different times caused problems. Leclerc's teammate Carlos Sainz salvaged some points, finishing fourth.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton battled back from seventh on the grid to claim second while Mercedes teammate and pole-sitter George Russell rounded out the podium.

It's Hamilton's fifth straight podium finish as the Silver Arrows continue to overcome early-season struggles that have them third in the constructors' standings. Mercedes has won eight straight constructors' championships entering this season.

Hamilton also earned an extra point for Sunday's fastest lap.

The podium is identical to the previous week's French Grand Prix.

After a tough showing in Saturday's qualifying for Red Bull and AlphaTauri, the team opted to change power units in all cars. Pierre Gasly incurred a penalty for doing so and was required to start from the pit lane.

The decision paid off, with Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez - who failed to make it out of Q2 on Saturday - going from 11th to fifth. Gasly wound up in 12th.

Formula One now heads into its summer break. The calendar resumes Aug. 28 with the Belgian GP in Spa, the first of three straight race weekends, which includes the Dutch GP and then Monza.

Verstappen now holds an impressive 80-point lead in the championship over Leclerc. Perez is only five points back of Leclerc in third.

Red Bull owns a 97-point lead in the constructors' over Ferrari. Mercedes is closing the gap on the Scuderia, trailing by 30 points.