Sawt Falasteen - Record-breaking Red Bull will not drop momentum levels - Verstappen

The defending double world champion and runaway leader of this year's title race produced a crushing performance at the Hungaroring where he came home 33.7 seconds clear of Lando Norris of McLaren.

It was his seventh win in succession, his ninth in 11 races this year and the 44th of his career – and a record 12th consecutive victory for Red Bull as well as their 250th podium finish in Formula One.

"It’s just incredible," said the 25-year-old Dutchman.

"What we’ve been going through the last few years is just unbelievable and hopefully we can keep this momentum going for a long time.

"Just to work with this whole team is always very enjoyable. Yesterday, for example, we know we have to look into it as always, but we will keep pushing, wanting to do better. But today is just perfect."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who hailed Verstappen’s form, said: "As a young kid, I remember watching McLaren achieving that feat and to think that now we’ve bettered that!

"It's something the whole team here in Budapest and behind the scenes in Milton Keynes have all worked so hard for and it will mean so much."

Verstappen's win lifts him to 281 points and a lead of 110 points in the drivers’ championship ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez while Red Bull have 452 points ahead of Mercedes on 223 in the constructors’ championship.

He added: "Finally, we had a really good start and I am very happy with that. We’ve been working on it quite a bit to try and get a good bite.

"I did and of course I knew I had the inside line so that corner was mine.

"It was just late on the brakes and a heavy car – but luckily it all worked out well. And from there I could do my race and today the car was really quick and enjoyable to drive."

He added that the team would work more on their upgrades package and performance after a slightly disappointing qualifying when he was beaten to pole by 0.003 seconds, ending a run of five straight poles, by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

"I think over one lap this weekend it was a bit of a struggle, but maybe that was a good thing! The car was good on any tyre and we could also look after the tyre wear and basically that's how we created such a big gap today."

A.Suleiman--SF-PST