Sebastian Vettel wins in Hungary

The Hungarian Grand Prix, contested in milder temperatures than yesterday, smiled on the Ferrari de Sebastian Vettel, who equals the great Ayrton Senna in the number of victories with 41 successes in F1, After a vibrant tribute paid to Jules Bianchi before the formation lap.

Author of a perfect start, the German, like his teammate Kimi Räikkönen, got the best of the Mercedes de Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The two Ferraris quickly took off while behind, the chaotic race for the Mercedes team began. Lewis Hamilton went off course at the chicane after locking his wheels. The World Champion returned to tenth position behind the Williams by Felipe Massa. In the lead, the two Ferraris of Vettel and Räikkönen widened the gap on Nico Rosberg. The first pit stops did not change the hierarchy in the top three.

It was during the second part of the event that events accelerated. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) will cause the safety car to enter the track (after a virtual safety car period) after seeing his front wing give way and pass under his car, before shooting straight into the tire wall in the first corner. The German was able to get out of his car alone.

Sebastian Vettel's lead was therefore reduced to nothing. The Ferrari driver then leads Räikkönen, plagued by MGU-K problems, and the two Mercedes of Rosberg and Hamilton. If the vice-world champion will immediately get rid of Räikkönen, Hamilton, put under pressure by Ricciardo, will contact the Red Bull and damage its front wing. Returning to the pits to change his bruised nose, Hamilton lost several places, while Räikkönen, passing through the pitlane for the first time to restart his car, definitively retired a few moments later.

In the lead, Rosberg was unable to attack Vettel, and saw his race ruined following contact with Ricciardo, who had just attempted hard braking at the first corner. The two cars touched each other at the exit of the curve, the front wing of the Red Bull causing a left rear puncture on the Mercedes.

Sebastian Vettel, freed from the competition, finally pocketed his second success of the season after Malaysia and was ahead of Daniil Kvyat's Red Bull at the checkered flag, who signed his best career result. Daniel Ricciardo completes the podium. Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso ), Fernando Alonso (McLaren), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Romain Grosjean (Lotus), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Jenson Button (McLaren) and Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) enter the top 10. Vettel also paid tribute to Jules Bianchi in French in the text: Jules, this victory is for you. The next meeting with F1 will take place the weekend of August 23 in Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps.

Find the full report and analysis of the Hungarian Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Budapest, in issue 2022 of AUTOhebdo, available from tomorrow evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.