The recent Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix was interesting. I suppose the weather helped again as it rained and we got to see defending World Champion Sebastian Vettel as well as previous World Champions Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso losing it with either a spin or having some off the track incidents. We also got to see a level headed ex-world champion Jenson Button winning the race in a McLaren. Lady luck must have been with him as the Hungarian Grand Prix was mainly led by Lewis Hamilton who drove the other McLaren.

Now other than that this race marked Button's 200th race and incredibly his 11th race win. I suppose this basically means that Formula 1 is tough as this chap has been racing for so long and actually won the driver's championship once yet he only has eleven wins around his belt. It must be as he has to fight four other world champions out there (the chaps mentioned above and Michael Schumacher too).

Anyway, it rained and as usual that sort of weather makes racing so unpredictable. Aside from the spins and slips by the race leaders and challengers, one other reason Jenson Button won was his decision not to come in of intermediate tires when everyone seemed to want to use them. He opted for the prime tires in a slightly damp track and kept it on the track when others seemed to be slip-sliding all around him. From what I have seen, the Red Bull cars are still the cars to beat on race day but when the weather comes into play, tire strategy, patience and skill comes into play.

One other incident that is actually worth writing about is the fact that Nick Heidfield's Renault actually caught fire in the pits (at around lapd 20). This happened as the Renault was stationary for quite a while and upon exiting the pits, his car caught fire. Heidfield managed to scramble out of the car and the car experienced a small explosion while the track marshalls were trying to put the fire out. One marshall was hit by flying shards of carbon fiber and it was a nearly a safety car incident. It wasn't, but if the safety car was brought out, the outcome of the race may be altered.

Anyway, as I posted earlier, mid-season is usually when Formula 1 gets interesting. No one knows what will happen after this upcoming 4 week break from racing. The next race is scheduled on the 28th of August at Spa, Belgium.

Results

01. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1h43:42.337

02. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 3.588

03. Alonso Ferrari + 19.819

04. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 48.338

05. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 49.742

06. Massa Ferrari + 1:17.176

07. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 1 lap

08. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap

09. Rosberg Mercedes + 1 lap

10. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap

11. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1 lap

12. Petrov Renault + 1 lap

13. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 2 laps

14. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 2 laps

15. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 2 laps

16. Maldonado Williams-Cosworth + 2 laps

17. Glock Virgin-Cosworth + 4 laps

18. Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth + 4 laps

19. D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth + 5 laps

20. Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth + 5 laps

Retirements

Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 56

Schumacher Mercedes 27

Heidfeld Renault 24

Trulli Lotus-Renault 18

photo credit:planetf1