Ferrari's Sebestian Vettel wins Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix
Xinhua, July 27, 2015 Adjust font size:
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, driving for Ferrari, won the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix in Mogyorod near Budapest on Sunday, ahead of the Red Bull duo of Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo.
This was the German's 41st career win and his second win of the year. It was also his first-ever victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix. Vettel dedicated his victory to Jules Bianchi, the upcoming Ferrari driver who died last Friday.
The favorite, British Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes finished sixth, and his teammate and archrival German Nico Rosberg ended up eighth.
After a chaotic red-flagged start, Vettel took the lead, followed by teammate Kimi Raikkonen of Finland, leaving Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg behind, and eventually squeezing Hamilton off the track. This dropped the favorite down to the 10th place.
Halfway through the race (Lap 43), Force India's driver Nico Hulkenberg of Germany crashed his car, spreading debris all over the track and interrupting the race when drivers were forced to follow a Safety Car.
Vettel held onto the lead when the Safety Car released the drivers while Rosberg took second place from Raikkonen who eventually retired because of technical problems.
Then Australian Ricciardo's and Hamilton's cars touched after Hamilton had worked his way forward to the fifth place. The Mercedes was damaged which dropped to 13th place following a pit stop to replace a damaged wing.
Hamilton was further penalized when it was found that he had been responsible for the collision with Ricciardo. Ricciardo and Russian Kyvat moved into third and fourth places respectively and Rosberg in second.
In the 64th lap Ricciardo hit Rosberg. Ricciardo lost a wing and Rosberg had a tire puncture, dropping him down to 10th place. Ricciardo was penalized and relegated to third place and Kyvat moved into second, with Vettel holding onto the lead.
This was Kvyat's first time on the podium. Toro Rosso driver Dutch Max Verstappen's fourth place finish was a career best and McLaren's Fernando Alonso of Spain finished 5th for a season best.
Hamilton was 6th and Rosberg 8th, enabling Hamilton to increase his lead over Rosberg in drivers standings from 17 to 21 points.
Vettel finished 21 points behind Rosberg and 42 behind Hamilton as Formula 1 begins a summer recess.
The next stop will be in Belgium August 23. Endi