“McLaren-Mercedes victorious as Button masters the interchangeable conditions”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF_EnR-reKI
BUDAPEST
PRE RACE
Traditionally, from a driver’s perspective, Hungary is one of the toughest most physically demanding races of the year. The weather conditions are usually very hot: 70 laps of the Hungaroring circuit (race distance of +-306.67km’s) in warm conditions tests the fitness and endurance levels of a driver to the extreme. This year however weather conditions have been on the cool side – race day has delivered inclement weather, with a track temperature of only 18 degrees and humidity of 80%. The cars will in all probability be starting the race on the Pirelli “intermediate” tyres. The Pirelli “super-soft” (red writing on the tyre sidewall) and “soft” (yellow writing) tyre compounds will also be used, providing the track dries out sufficiently to merit their use. These tyres seem to prefer hotter conditions, so we could see some interesting racing. At this stage it is only light rain, with the forecast showing that it should clear during the race.
START
There is a large crowd at the circuit today – testament to the fact that F1 is a very popular sport. Mechanics are performing last minute checks to the cars, as the drivers patiently wait, going through the start in their minds. The tyre blankets are still concealing the chosen tyres, who will start on which tyres? All will be revealed shortly… In the meantime, the Safety Car is performing a track inspection: a lap of the circuit to check for standing water and general track conditions. There is only one “DRS” zone for this race: the start/finish straight.
The tyre blankets come off: as expected everyone is starting on the “intermediate” tyres. The race stewards are satisfied and the cars set off on their installation lap. The drivers use this lap to test levels of grip on the circuit; the track is very “greasy”, there is not much standing water – but levels of grip are not good. Vettel leads the pack back onto the start/finish straight and grid positions are taken up. The 5 red light sequence begins; engine revolutions build – V8 engines straining to unleash their horsepower – a terrific cacophony of sound… The red lights blink out – we are racing in Budapest!
Lap 1
The cars charge down to Turn 1, hitting 270km/h an hour on a wet track. Under these conditions, picking a breaking point and turn in point, whilst also fighting for positions is never easy. Levels of grip are still relatively unknown as we see various cars getting “twitchy” and threatening to spin out. This is the “cut and thrust” of F1 racing. Vettel has a good start and leads into the first corner, behind him are Hamilton, Button, Rosberg and Alonso. Everybody makes it through the first corner without any major incidents or contacts.
The Order on Lap 1 is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Hamilton, Button, Rosberg, Alonso, Schumacher, Massa, Webber, DiResta and Kobeyashi.
Lap 3
After having taken Schumacher on the first lap, Alonso now takes Rosberg for 4th position.
Lap 4
Rosberg takes Alonso for 4th position, claiming his position back.
Track conditions are treacherous still: levels of grip still a somewhat unknown factor.
Lap 5
Hamilton takes Vettel for 1st position – brave move in the rain.
Lap 6
Hamilton sets the fastest lap: 1:43:736
Lap 7
Alonso takes Massa for 5th position.
The Order after 7 Laps is as follows:
Hamilton leads, followed by Vettel (@4,830s), Button (@1,727s), Rosberg, Alonso, Massa, Webber, Schumacher, DiResta and Kobeyashi.
Lap 8
Massa off the track – rejoins in 9th position.
Lap 9
Hamilton sets the fastest lap: 1:40:444
Alonso takes Rosberg for 4th position – a good move utilising the DRS zone on the start/finish straight.
Lap 11
Webber pits from 7th – rejoins 11th.
(Pit Lane time: 20,854s. Pit-stop time: 3,7s).
Massa pits from 9th – rejoins 16th.
(Pit Lane time: 22,295s. Pit-stop time: 4,2s).
Both have elected to swop their “intermediate tyres” for “super-soft” tyres as the track appears to be drying out.
Petrov pits.
Lap 12
Button pits from 3rd – rejoins 6th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,786s. Pit-stop time: 4,4s).
(“Super-soft” tyres).
Maldonado pits.
Hamilton pits – from 1st – rejoins 2nd.
(Pit Lane time: 21,880s. Pit-stop time: 4,1s).
Vettel pits – from 2nd – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 20,690s. Pit-stop time: 3,5s).
Alonso pits – rejoins 5th.
Kobeyashi pits.
Lap 13
Liuzzi pits.
Lap 14
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:35:881
As conditions improve, the lap times are tumbling.
Button takes Vettel for 2nd position.
Webber takes Alonso for 4th position.
Lap 15
Massa sets the fastest lap: 1:35:360
Webber runs wide and leaves the track.
Hamilton sets the fastest lap: 1:31:634
The Order after 15 Laps is as follows:
Hamilton leads, followed by Button (@6,782s), Vettel (@7,305s), Webber, Alonso, Rosberg, DiResta, Schumacher, Massa and Kobeyashi.
Lap 17
Hamilton sets the fastest lap: 1:28:893
Lap 18
Alonso sets the fastest lap: 1:28:662
Lap 19
Hamilton sets the fastest lap: 1:28:264
Lap 20
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:28:154
Trulli retires from the race.
Lap 22
Webber sets the fastest lap: 1:27:413
The Order after 22 Laps is as follows:
Hamilton leads, followed by Button (@8,650s), Vettel (@1,881s), Webber (@6,820s), Alonso, Rosberg, DiResta, Schumacher, Massa and Kobeyashi.
Lap 25
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:27:057
Heidfeld pits. As the mechanics change the rear wheels, there is smoke billowing from the rear of the car – Heidfeld departs the pits and shortly afterwards parks his car at the side of the track: the car is on fire! Heidfeld quickly jumps out the car and as the marshals extinguish the blaze the engine appears to explode.
Lap 26
Webber pits – from 4th – rejoins 4th.
Alonso pits – from 5th – rejoins 5th.
Massa pits – from 9th.
Petrov pits.
Buemi pits.
Lap 27
Hamilton pits – from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
Button pits – from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 20,817s. Pit-stop time: 4,2s).
Sutil pits.
Schumacher pits.
Lap 28
Massa has been putting pressure on Schumacher for a few laps, as he moves to pass Schumacher, the two cars briefly make contact, sending Schumacher spinning off the track and out of the race.
Lap 29
Vettel pits from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
Massa takes Rosberg for 7th position – good move.
Maldonado pits.
The Order after 29 Laps is as follows:
Hamilton leads, followed by Button (@7,266s), Vettel (@13,829s), Webber (@16,832s), Alonso (@18,053s), Kobeyashi, Massa, Rosberg, DiResta and Barichello.
Lap 30
Glock pits.
Lap 31
Riccardo pits.
Lap 32
Vettel sets the fastest lap: 1:25:741
Lap 33
Perez under investigation by the stewards for overtaking under waved yellow flags.
Lap 34
Massa takes Kobeyashi for 6th position.
Lap 35
Kobeyashi pits.
Lap 37
Alonso pits – from 5th – rejoins 5th.
(Pit Lane time: 19,936s. Pit-stop time: 3,8s).
Lap 38
Alguersuari takes Barichello for 9th position.
Barichello pits.
Lap 40
Webber pits – from 4th – rejoins 5th.
(Pit Lane time: 20,673s. Pit-stop time: 4,2s).
Liuzzi pits.
Hamilton pits – from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 20,861s. Pit-stop time: 3,9s).
Lap 41
Massa pits.
Lap 42
Vettel pits – from 2nd – rejoins 4th.
(Pit Lane time: 19,664s. Pit-stop time: 3,4s).
Button pits – from 1st – rejoins 2nd.
(Pit Lane time: 20,046s. Pit-stop time: 3,4s).
Lap 43
DiResta pits.
Buemi pits.
The Order after 43 Laps is as follows:
Hamilton leads, followed by Button (@7,857s), Alonso (@0,784s), Vettel (@2,781s), Webber, Rosberg, DiResta, Alguersuari, Massa and Buemi.
Lap 44
Buemi pits.
Lap 45
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:24:549
Lap 46
Kovelainnen pits.
Perez pits.
Lap 47
Riccardo pits.
Hamilton spins off in dramatic fashion, and Button takes the lead.
In recovering his car, Hamilton spins it round into oncoming traffic, and DiResta has to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
The stewards are investigating the incident.
Lap 48
Alonso pits – from 4th – rejoins 5th.
(Pit Lane time: 20,126s. Pit-stop time: 3,5s).
Lap 49
Alguersuari pits.
Lap 50
D’Ambrosio pits.
The Order after 50 Laps is as follows:
Button leads, followed by Hamilton, Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Rosberg, Massa, Petrov, Kobeyashi and Alguersuari.
Lap 51
Button has an “off” and Hamilton retakes the lead.
Rosberg pits – from 7th.
Lap 52
Button takes Hamilton for 1st position. A great move using DRS on the start/finish straight.
Webber pits – from 4th – rejoins 5th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,122s. Pit-stop time: 4,1s).
Maldonado pits.
Petrov pits.
Barichello pits.
Kovelainnen pits.
Lap 53
Hamilton pits – from 2nd – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 20,855s. Pit-stop time: 4,4s).
(“Intermediate” tyres go on).
Lap 54
Webber pits – from 5th.
(Pit Lane time: 20,715s. Pit-stop time: 3,7s).
Alonso takes Hamilton.
Drive through Penalty given to Hamilton.
Lap 55
Hamilton pits – from 4th – rejoins 4th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,628s. Pit-stop time: 3,5s).
Petrov pits.
Kovelainnen pits.
Lap 56
Rosberg pits.
The Order after 56 Laps is as follows:
Button leads, followed by Vettel (@4,514s), Alonso (@13,448s), Hamilton (@26,428s), Massa, Webber, Kobeyashi, Rosberg, Buemi and DiResta.
Lap 57
Hamilton pulls into the pit lane to serve his Drive through Penalty (sanctioned for spinning his car around in front of oncoming traffic).
Hamilton drops from 4th position to 6th position.
Lap 58
Webber takes Massa for 4th position – great move.
Lap 59
Hamilton takes Massa for 5th position.
Alonso spins off the track, but recovers his car.
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:23:937
Massa pits – from 6th – rejoins 6th.
Lap 60
Hamilton sets the fastest lap: 1:23:876
The Order after 60 Laps is as follows:
Button leads, followed by Vettel (@6,679s), Alonso (@18,976s), Webber (@28,919s), Hamilton, Massa, DiResta, Kobeyashi, Buemi and Alguersuari.
Lap 62
Massa sets the fastest lap: 1:23:655
Kobeyashi and Alguersuari make contact in Turn 1, no serious damage.
Lap 64
Hamilton takes Webber for 4th position – brilliant move.
Kobeyashi pits.
Lap 70
Button takes the win!
It has been a superlative drive from Button on a greasy track: very difficult constantly changing conditions.
2. Vettel (@3,588s)
3. Alonso (@19,819s)
4. Hamilton
5. Webber
6. Massa
7. DiResta
8. Buemi
9. Rosberg
10. Alguersuari
Retired: 20/24 starters finished the race; considering the dramatic conditions and the long race distance, this is not bad.
SUMMARY
Button gets out the car and gives the crowd a double fist pump, then goes to his team and receives their congratulations; his joy at a stunning victory is clearly evident. This was Jenson Button’s 200th F1 Grand Prix start – what a race to win!
The beautiful and stylishly attired grid girls, sponsored by the title sponsor for this event, ENI, form an “honour guard” for the top 3 drivers as they make their way to the podium. The podium ceremony is a grand affair. Dave Robson represents the McLaren-Mercedes team on the podium. The ENI trophies presented to the top 3 are stunning. The formalities having been dispensed with, it’s champagne time! Mumm champagne flies everywhere and crowns off what has been a captivating and enthralling Hungarian F1 GP. This is Formula 1!
The Hungaroring delivered a great race. Yes, the weather conditions no doubt added to the spectacle, but upfront it was close racing as the McLaren-Mercedes, RBR-Renault and Ferrari teams fought hard for the win. The racing in the midfield was also very tight, with plenty of overtaking. In total, there were no fewer than 88 pit stops in this race: the interchangeable inclement conditions meaning that it was critical to be on the right tyre at the right time. As in Canada, Button displayed his wet weather driving skills and drove a flawless race to capture a memorably victory for the McLaren-Mercedes team.
NEXT STOP:
The next race on the calendar is the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps (a legendary track) on the 28th August 2011.
The second half of the Formula 1 season promises to deliver some exciting racing. Sebastian Vettel of RBR-Renault has all but secured the driver’s championship, but behind him it’s anybody’s guess as to who will claim 2nd. Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes have bridged the gap to the dominant form displayed by RBR-Renault, and we can look forward to some epic battles for victory.
However, before then, the drivers and teams will take a well deserved +- 3 week break. Formula 1 is hard work, jetting all over the world and setting up every second week or so in a new country is never easy, trying to constantly “evolve” your car and make it faster; but this is the nature of Formula 1.
Written by Mark Batchelder, Road and Race’s F1 Connoisseur
