Vettel was moving to third in the all-time list with Brazilian legend Senna, the first Ferrari driver to win in Hungary since Michael Schumacher.
Germany’s Sebastian Vettel won an emotional Hungarian Grand Prix for Ferrari and the late Jules Bianchi on Sunday after a insane race that turned into a rare nightmare for champions Mercedes despite Lewis Hamilton increasing his overall lead.
With one third of the season’s most thrilling race completed, and the contenders having changed tires, Vettel had a comfortable lead.
Bianchi’s death came nine months after his harrowing crash at the Japanese Grand Prix on October 5 and his passing cast a long shadow over the sport heading into this week’s race. “You are always in our hearts”. “This win is for you”.
Formula 1 is often criticized for not being exciting, but the Hungarian Grand Prix was two hours of madness.
“But nevertheless this is for Jules and his family”, Vettel said.
“I think for all of us it is very hard, so this one is for him, and especially all the people at Ferrari and all the Ferrari fans”. Doing his best to laugh off a dismal performance, he said: “The last time like this was Fuji in 2008 maybe, when it went from one thing to another”.
“I am sure we will try absolutely everything and try to make the impossible possible”.
“I owe my race to Jules”, Ricciardo said after his first podium finish this season. “My gadgets never used from the pram and assumed “this can be over”.
“That meant a drive through which dropped me right back again after all that work to make it back through. I will regain my stability”. “I gained extra strength today and I owe that to him”.
Four-time F1 champion Vettel started third on the grid.
Hamilton endured his worst race of the year on one of his favourite circuits on which he was seeking a record fifth victory, but somehow, despite all the incidents, managed to increase his lead in this year’s title race.
Pole-sitter Hamilton’s woes began with a slow getaway, followed by a failed attempt to overtake Rosberg which saw him rejoin the track in 10th, while he also endured a late collision with Ricciardo.
Hamilton’s troubles were compounded when he tangled with Ricciardo and was handed a drive-through penalty that dropped him to 16th place.
“Today it just came together, and despite the safety vehicle we still managed to win, so this one is for the team as well”. Rosberg and Hamilton continued fighting each other despite dropping to P3 and P4, respectively, after the start. Despite the questionable tyre choice, Rosberg still seemed the favorite after the restart in Lap 49. This gave the Ferraris an early jump, with Vettel out front and Kimi Raikkonen taking second in Turn 2.
It was his final significant act. It was so incomprehensible given his crushing performance in Friday practice and qualifying.
“I’m so sorry guys, really sorry”, a contrite Hamilton said on radio.
