Hungary win sees Hamilton stretch lead over rival Vettel

FROM taking pole in teeming rain to seizing victory in blistering sunshine, Lewis Hamilton yesterday underlined his status at this Hungarian Grand Prix as Formula One’s man for all seasons.

Although Ferrari had the faster car, Mercedes had the shrewder strategy, timing his pit stops to perfection as the four-time world champion won by daylight to extend his lead over title rival Sebastian Vettel to 24 points.

Hamilton looked ominous in his dominance yesterday, a record-breaking sixth win here.

Now he steels himself for a potentially explosive season run-in, starting at Spa.

On successive weekends, Hamilton has snatched wins. First at Hockenheim, where he capitalised on Vettel crashing out while leading, then in Budapest, where, courtesy of a qualifying masterclass, he secured pole.

He must now aim to correct an anomaly of no one since Michael Schumacher in 2004 following success in Budapest with championship glory in the same season. “I could only have dreamt of being in the position,” Hamilton said.

For Ferrari, F1’s four-week August hiatus has come at an opportune time. While their drivers somehow contrived two podium finishes, the result was almost derailed by an errorstrewn display in the garage.

Kimi Raikkonen had to endure 70 laps in blazing Hungarian heat without proper fluid intake after mechanics failed to configure his in-car water bottle correctly.

JUMP

Then, Vettel, needing a lightning pit stop to make the jump on Valtteri Bottas, smouldered in his box as a jack became stuck at the rear of the car. In those 4.2 seconds,any chance of challenging Hamilton for the win evaporated.

Vettel knew, chasing Bottas, he had to take the first chance that presented itself. But while cars can follow closely, passing becomes tricky in the dirty air generated behind cars wider and more powerful than ever.

So it proved for the German, who for 20 laps buzzed around Bottas’s rear wing like an angry wasp. It was to the Mercedes understudy’s credit that he held firm so long, discharging his primary duty of protecting Hamilton’s lead.

Bottas faltered in the closing stages, colliding with Vettel as the Ferrari swept past, before clipping Daniel Ricciardo as the Australian snuck around the outside at Turn Two. Bottas, who fell from second to fifth and incurred a 10-second penalty for hitting the Red Bull, was not overjoyed at his characterisation as a pliant deputy.

Hamilton, by contrast, crossed the line a study in serenity. A fifth world crown is inching closer. (© Daily Telegraph, London)