Ricciardo’s team-mate Max Verstappen did the same to the other Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen in a scrap so close the Finn clipped the Dutchman’s auto at one stage.
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The battle for pole between the Mercedes drivers on Saturday at the Hungaroring produced a late twist, with Rosberg emerging on top in Q3 after yellow flags for a spinning Fernando Alonso proved less of a disadvantage on his lap. Sahara Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, and Williams driver Valtteri Bottas round up the top 10 on the grid at the 2016 Hungarian GP. His team-mate Jenson Button was 12th in the order.
Rosberg’s positive omen Hamilton goes into Sunday’s race only one point adrift of Rosberg in the drivers’ championship, but his chances of usurping the German this afternoon are hurt by the fact that he starts second behind his teammate.
Dutch team-mate Max Verstappen will start fourth followed by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
The McLaren driver was asked to stay out, but soon pitted and was put under investigation for illegal radio messages.
If either Mercedes driver has a bad start, or if they get into eachother’s way as they have several times this season, the Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen are waiting just behind them.
It was an extremely fortunate decision for Red Bull Racing, which went from two potential did-not-qualify results to locking out the second row on the grid, but it didn’t change the almost inevitable front row. Vettel was the first to pit among the leaders and rejoined on new softs in eighth place. I had one of the Red Bulls on the inside so I was pressured quite a lot into turn one.
Hamilton is told to speed up, because Ricciardo in closing on Rosberg in second place.
Hamilton lines up second on the grid, allowing Mercedes a front row lockout. Rosberg at one time led by 43 points.
“For me, there was no question I had to lift because Fernando was on the track, but perhaps for Nico, I think, Fernando had cleared but there were still flags so it was just a different scenario”.
On lap 42 Hamilton pits from the lead and takes on another set of soft tyres.
Hamilton’s win increased his points total to 192, six more than Rosberg as Ricciardo moved up to third.
An angry Hamilton lost time behind Esteban Gutierrez, an opportunity Rosberg used to close right in on lap 2. The Dutchman missed the flag by just eight tenths of a second. “And on a drying track you are going to go so much quicker”.
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On lap 56 Raikkonen made contact with Verstappen as he attempted to pass into Turn 2, only to see Verstappen close the door and a piece of his front wing disappear into the scenery. Hamilton opens the gap back up to 1.1 seconds the next lap.
