Max Verstappen purrs after extending F1 title race lead to 80 points "even with a 360"

Max Verstappen was an understandably happy man as he joked in front of the TV cameras after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix.

After a disastrous result in qualifying, not many backed the Dutchman as one of the favourites to win in Budapest. But he made everyone who wrote him off look a little silly as he ended up claiming victory without having to break too much of a sweat.

The Dutchman started well and was patient as he waited for his opportunities to move up the order. And he was helped by another Ferrari strategy disaster which took Charles Leclerc out of the running, while Lewis Hamilton ran out of laps while on his late charge.

His victory was made all the more impressive by the fact he survived a spin earlier in the race. He was forced to overtake Leclerc twice as, after the first one, he lost his rear end in a rare mistake but span his car round impressively to get himself pointing back in the right direction.

"I was struggling a bit with the shifts and the clutch, and we had to change a few things around that to basically burn the clutch," he said when explaining what had caused that uncharacteristic faux pas. "That cost a bit of performance and I think that caught me out of that corner. But luckily, I could do a 360 so I only lost one spot."

Verstappen's victory in Budapest was his eighth of the season so far (Getty Images)

Given the Hungaroring is notorious for being a venue where it is difficult to overtake, Verstappen admitted to not really believing that victory was possible from 10th place, especially without a safety car. "I was, of course, hoping that I could get close to a podium," he added.

But after achieving that victory, he was full of praise for his team's strategy gurus who timed his pit stops perfectly so he could undercut rivals. Verstappen continued: "Very tricky conditions out there. But I think we had a really good strategy.

"We were really reactive and always pitting at the right time, I think we had some good out laps. Then, at the end, even with a 360, we won the race. I was battling a lot of guys so it was a lot of fun out there. Crazy race, and I'm very happy I won it."