10 Memorable Moments From The Crazy Hungarian Grand Prix

Neither Mercedes driver finished on the podium in Hungary. Yes, you read that correctly. It was a disastrous race for the team, with poor starts, uncharacteristic errors, collisions, punctures and penalties for Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Sebastian Vettel took a commanding and faultless race win at the Hungaroring (his first at the track), with Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo wrestling their way to second and third. Here are the highlights:

1. A touching tribute

There was a minute’s silence for Jules Bianchi before the race. The drivers gathered at the front of the grid and, along with the Frenchman’s family, formed a circle. It was a touching, beautiful and emotional tribute to Bianchi.

Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen both had storming starts, moving ahead of the Mercedes drivers. Behind, Ricciardo got some air after contact with Valtteri Bottas, but surprisingly he managed to continue without major damage.

Hamilton was running fourth through the opening few corners, but he locked up into the sector two chicane, clipped the grass and cut the corner. After a bit of lawn mowing and gravel dispensing, he returned to the track in 10th.

Pastor Maldonado was well and truly back to his old ways. Sergio Perez tried to pass him around the outside at Turn 1. It was a ballsy move, sure. But the Mexican was left with no room on the exit and the two inevitably collided. For a second, he probably thought he was going for another roll, as he’d suffered in a practice session. Maldonado eventually picked up three penalties – yep, three!

5. Crazy racing

The Hungarian Grand Prix was undoubtedly one of the best races in recent years. Alongside the contact, collisions and penalties, there was also plenty of exciting racing. We saw some brilliant overtakes from Hamilton, Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso as they moved up the order, and at times it all got very, very close.

With the Hungaroring’s harsh kerbs, Nico Hulkenberg’s front wing had clearly had enough. The German suffered a scary failure at the worst possible moment – on the run to Turn 1. He went straight on and hard into the wall, but was fortunately OK.

The Safety Car was deployed to clear Hulkenberg’s car and the huge amounts of debris. When the race resumed, Ricciardo made a move on Hamilton but they collided. The Mercedes driver had to stop for a new front wing and also picked up a drive-through. From bad to worse.

8. Iceman, out

Kimi Raikkonen spent most of the race in second and was doing a fine job. However, just prior to Hulkenberg’s crash he reported an “odd sound” from the engine. His MGU-K failed, and on the restart he slipped back. Everyone’s favourite Finn eventually retired.

With the chequered flag in sight, Vettel led Rosberg, Ricciardo and Kvyat, and they were all separated by just a handful of seconds. However, when Ricciardo tried to make a move at Turn 1, he clipped Rosberg’s left-rear, giving the title challenger a puncture. Both pitted for repairs. It really was a crazy way to end an action-packed race.

Vettel didn’t put a foot wrong and took a clear second win of the 2015 season. As others faltered, he powered to the win, ahead of Kvyat – despite the Russian being given a 10-second penalty – and Ricciardo. Max Verstappen scored his best F1 result with fourth.

Fernando Alonso was fifth. Yes, a McLaren Honda in fifth. Hamilton recovered to sixth, with Romain Grosjean seventh and Rosberg down in eighth. Button was ninth (another McLaren in the points!) and Marcus Ericsson was 10th.

All three podium finishes dedicated their results to Bianchi – more wonderful tributes to the Marussia driver.