For the first time in this Formula 1 season, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is leading the World Drivers’ Championship, after a comfortable win at the Hungarian GP.
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Behind, Ricciardo took third, narrowly ahead of former team-mate and Ferrari man Sebastian Vettel, who reduced the gap to less than a second as they crossed the start-finish line.
He may not be counting points, but everyone else is, and Hamilton now has a six-point lead in the title race.
Hamilton made a better start than his teammate and took the lead after diving down the inside of Turn 1 as Rosberg had to defend from the attacks from Ricciardo, who took second place briefly before being passed by the German at Turn 2.
It was Hamilton’s fifth win at the Hungaroring, making him the most successful driver on the circuit beating Michael Schumacher’s record. Up to now, it’s been a good battle with Lewis and, as I’ve always said, I’m not counting the points.
“I don’t really think of the past in those ways, just looking forward to it now, because of pole position and I’ve been really feeling good out there the whole weekend, in all conditions – wet, dry, even with high fuel on Friday – so it’s been a great weekend so far”.
Jolyon Palmer, of Renault, was left shattered after a late-race spin cost him a chance to finish in the F1 points for the first time. Rosberg has five wins on the year, which has him first in the standings, but Hamilton is on a hot streak right now.
“I have seen people penalised for much less, but it is not my decision”, Raikkonen remarked post-race.
“All us drivers need to fully understand the yellow flag situation because obviously in the way it’s written is not how it’s interpreted by the stewards or the drivers”, Hamilton said.
“A huge thanks to the team, this is a great result for us”.
Raikkonen, who drove well from 14th on the grid, collided with Verstappen’s Red Bull in a lively fight in the closing laps but was unable to pass the Dutchman.
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany steers his vehicle during the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix, at the Hungaroring racetrack, in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, July 24, 2016.
“I was happy to take Daniel in turn two and from then I was trying to put all the pressure possible on Lewis”, Rosberg said. “I guess that’s what we’re not too pleased with at the moment”.
“They managed them very well in the first stint on the super-softs, and then we bolted on the softs and we didn’t have any experience on those tyres”.
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The duo were evenly matched on pace, but Red Bull Racing rolled the dice on Ricciardo’s track position with an aggressive undercut at his second stop. “We have the next race coming up very quickly – the German Grand Prix – and it is my home race”.
