Esteban Ocon, Alpine (P18): 6/10
Whatever it was that sparked Alpine into a series of points finishes in June seems to have deserted them. The team's qualifying miscue - thinking they were sufficiently safe not to have to send their cars out for another run in Q1 - was a painful lesson in hubris and meteorology. Starting from the back there wasn't much that Esteban Ocon could do despite a flying start that saw him gain four positions. After that he remained stuck amid a gaggle of Haas, RB and Sauber cars. A three-stop strategy meant he dropped from P16 to last in the closing laps, but he recovered one of those dropped spots back with a late pass on Zhou Guanyu before the chequered flag. Not much for a former race winner here to celebrate.
Logan Sargeant, Williams (P17): 6/10
Logan Sargeant cut an abject figure in the Budapest paddock, looking for all the world as through someone had shot his puppy. The general feeling was that this meant he'd been handed the news that he'll be leaving Williams as soon as next week after Spa. It'll be no surprise if that does indeed prove to be the case - indeed, it's been expected for weeks - but the irony is that Sargeant had a solid time in Hungary, continuing his improving qualifying form to make it into Q2 and start from P14. Unfortunately he had a poor start and dropped four spots, then losing time running behind Esteban Ocon virtually all afternoon. He undercut the Alpine when both made late third pit stops but by then it was too late to do better than 17th, once again some way behind his team mate Alex Albon.
