Vettel wins action-packed Hungarian GP ahead of Red Bulls – Racing

Speaking in French for the watching family, he added in English: “We know sooner or later Jules would have been a part of this team”.

The ferocity of the contest, lit up by Vettel’s blazing speed and tenacity, served as an appropriate tribute to Frenchman Bianchi, who died on July 17 from injuries sustained when he collided with a recovery vehicle in torrential rain at last October’s Japanese Grand Prix.

“This victory is for Jules”, Vettel said.

“Thank you Jules. You will always be in our hearts”.

Wolff even revealed that Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone came into the motorhome after the race to congratulate Mercedes – for not winning.

“I don’t know if it was a lack of concentration or what”.

Assessing his race, Rosberg said: “I was very pleased with it until lap 64, and after that, just nowhere”. He was able to recover and finish in third place, whilst Rosberg dropped through the field to finish the race in eight place. Bianchi’s mother Christine and father Philippe, brother Tom and sister Melanie joined them as they all linked arms on the Hungaroring grid.

“I’m really sorry, guys”, a deflated Hamilton said to his team. Today was one of the worst performances I’ve put in for a long, long time. In the process of trying to get into P2, Ricciardo hit Rosberg who was in turn closing in on Vettel.

With his win, Vettel equaled the late Ayrton Senna’s total of 41 Grand Prix victories.

The two Ferrari drivers darted into the lead after getting a magnificent start off the line, while pole sitter Hamilton slipped back to fourth.

Mercedes motorsport boss Wolff felt Ricciardo’s move was “questionable” and it was “more of a mistake” of the Australian, but like Rosberg he accepted the stewards’ decision. I didn’t give up and drove as hard as I could. “To be honest the move was late but it was clean”.

It left Rosberg back in eighth place and now trailing his Hamilton by 21 points going into the summer break.

The gap had been 16 seconds, but Hamilton was just seven adrift of his team-mate when the race was thrown the most spectacular of curveballs.

Hamilton has won five races so far this year, with Rosberg clinching three wins and one for Vettel.

But the race was re-started because Brazilian driver Felipe Massa was out of position on the grid. 719 clear of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who has 45 career poles.

Hamilton’s final lap was 0.575secs quicker than Rosberg’s best effort and 0.719secs ahead of the German Vettel.

Hamilton punched the air as he claimed pole with his emphatic lap time of of 1min 22.020secs.

Hamilton eventually fought his way to fourth before Nico Hulkenberg’s front wing shattered at close to 200mph and the Force India driver ploughed into the tyre wall – fortunately, he walked away unscathed.

The impact punctured Rosberg’s rear tyre and forced Ricciardo to pit for a new front wing, allowing Kvyat to get ahead of him.

While it was business as usual for Hamilton, there was yet more misery for McLaren in a campaign which descended into farce on Saturday. His team-mate Kimi Raikkonen followed, as Ferrari enjoyed 1-2 in the early laps of the race. Minutes later, those hopes were dashed.