Hamilton’s victory on Sunday was the 48th of his career, which puts him only three behind Alain Prost as the second most successful driver of all time in terms of wins.
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Even after the reigning world champion won the Hungarian grand prix, it was clear tension between the two Mercedes drivers remained.
He has now won at the Hungaroring on five occasions – more than any other driver in the sport’s history.
After winning Sunday’s race to go top of the championship for the first time this year, Hamilton re-opened the debate when he said Rosberg had not slowed enough and would have struggled to stop if a vehicle, or marshal, had been on the track.
“I don’t think [it’s over]”, said Wolff. It didn’t feel like it was, but it was rock bottom. The only way was up.
We take a look at just how Hamilton has managed to turn a 43-point deficit into a six-point lead in just six races.
Rosberg, who was slowing Hamilton up in the early phase of the race, was ordered out of his way, and Hamilton then benefited from Daniel Ricciardo’s pit-stop gaffe to win his first race of the season.
“It doesn’t mean I’m 25 points behind”.
The new championship leader easily rebuilt his lead each time; Rosberg had no reply to Hamilton’s pace and was forced to finish a subdued second.
Mercedes noticed the shrinking lead and told Hamilton to “push”, or they would have Rosberg change tires ahead of him.
Ricciardo was alongside Hamilton on the outside as they went around Turn One but had to drop back on the exit.
“He could have closed the gap if he wanted to”.
Rosberg came home second ahead of Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen in the second Red Bull.
British rookie Jolyon Palmer has been desperate to deliver a stand-out performance, and he excelled at Hungary before his late spin.
Afterwards, Palmer labelled his race a “disaster”. “It’s one thing Esteban got penalised with five seconds, and we still need to check the data and the timing, but I think the five seconds were taken because the gesture was done, not because he was holding him up”.
“It was completely in my grasp. We didn’t set a good example”. I felt great in the vehicle. “I said to them “just be chilled, I know what I’m doing”.
The Hungary GP saw only one retirement occur, that of Jenson Button, who faced a stuck pedal as his auto lost hydraulic pressure and was asked not to shift. “Race from hell this is going to be”.
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Many drivers and seasoned paddock observers believe that waved yellow flags in qualifying should be extended to the full circuit to end a driver’s qualifying lap.
