Vettel increases lead, Hamilton keeps word
Ferrari dominate Hungarian GP
Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian defender Thiago Silva (center), holds the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the French Trophy of Champions (Trophee des Champions) football match between Monaco (ASM) and
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on July 29, at the Grand Stade in Tangiers. (AFP) BUDAPEST, July 30, (AFP): Sebastian Vettel increased his drivers’ world championship lead to 14 points on Sunday when he led Kimi Raikkonen home in a dominant Ferrari one-two at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
In his 50th race for Ferrari, the four-time champion German controlled the contest from pole position in stifling heat to reel off his first win in five races since the Monaco Grand Prix.
His main title rival Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes finished fourth, after handing a podium finish back to his team-mate Valtteri Bottas on the final lap following a late switch to enable the Briton to attack the two Ferraris.
Dutchman Max Verstappen finished fifth for Red Bull after surviving an opening lap collision with his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo that saw the angry Australian forced into an early retirement, forcing the deployment of the Safety Car.
Two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso came home sixth and recorded the fastest lap of the race for McLaren-Honda after a stirring and often remarkable drive.
Vettel, who started the day just a point ahead of Hamilton, increased
Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel celebrates at the Hungaroring racing circuit in Budapest on July 30, after winning the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix. (AFP)
Bottas, who was also given a resounding reception, said: “I was getting a little bit worried as the gap was increasing, but really, thanks to Lewis to keep the promise and let me by.”
On a very hot afternoon with a track temperature of 55 degrees Celsius, and the air at 30, the two Ferraris made a clean start to lead ahead of Bottas while, behind them, the first lap featured mayhem and a Safety Car intervention.
At Turn One, Frenchman Romain Grosjean’s Haas collided with German Nico Hulkenberg’s Renault before, at Turn Two, the two Red Bulls collided when Verstappen oversteered into his team-mate.
After spinning and surviving, Australian Ricciardo immediately had to park his damaged car with fluid pouring. And he had some harsh words for his young team-mate.
“It was what it was,” he said. “It’s not on. It was amateur to say the least. “He doesn’t like it when a team-mate gets in front of him ... A very poor mistake.”
Verstappen was given a 10-second penalty. As the race resumed, Hamilton attacked but Verstappen defended robustly.
Verstappen led the race during the pit-stops before he finally pitted after 42 laps and, after serving his penalty, rejoined in fifth.
Under team orders, Bottas let Hamilton through on lap 47 to launch a charge at the Ferraris, reassured that he would be given back third if the Briton did not pass a Ferrari.
By lap 56, Hamilton was within a second of Raikkonen, but unable to close in the turbulent air without losing grip. As promised, on the final lap, he let Bottas through to take third.
“I am a man of my word,” said Hamilton.