Hungarian GP: Race Summary

Hungarian Grand Prix 2011 marked Jenson Button's 200th Formula 1 race. He had a small party with several drivers and former team bosses to mark the occasion but quickly had to pack the cake away for the real work on Sunday.

Button's 200th Grand Prix (Photo by @theFifthDriver)

A wet track meant all drivers started on Intermediate tyres. Vettel had a decent start but both McLaren drivers (who started in 2nd and 3rd) were not far behind him. The tricky conditions meant a lot of sliding, fair battles between both McLaren drivers and an error from Vettel saw Hamilton take the lead in the 5th lap of the 70-lap race.

A dry line soon appeared on the track and most drivers switched to Super-Soft tyres (option tyres). Hamilton pulled out a lead, but it soon started raining again and some drivers made the controversial move onto Intermediates while others swapped to Soft (Prime) tyres. It turned out to be the wrong strategy as drivers like Hamilton and Webber couldn't make the tyres 'work for them'.

British GP: Race Summary

Tyre choice was a difficult decision to make at the start of the British Grand Prix at the revamped Silverstone track. Rain was pelting the track with 45minutes to race start but it was finally decided that Intermediates were the best tyres to be on. 

 

Highlights

Hamilton who started in 10th position, made up several places by the end of the first lap of the race, including overtaking his team-mate early in the race. Schumacher served a Stop-Go penalty for a collision with Kobayashi. There was a tasty DOUBLE overtake by McLaren drivers on both Ferrari drivers within a few minutes of each other. Vettel lost first place after bad pit stop by his engineers and Alonso pounced on 1st place and never let it go.

Alonso eventually won the British Grand Prix. Hamilton hung onto 4th place right up to the last corner, despite having been told to conserve fuel and being challenged by Massa (the gap between them was 0.024seconds!). Webber was told to 'maintain position' in final lap when he was closing up to his team-mate Vettel. What an exciting race!!!

Not a happy (Australian) bunny

Alguersuari continue his good form and scores another point this race. F1 rookie Ricciardo also finishes his first Formula 1 race and improves on his starting position (albeit by virtue of 5 drivers developing problems and not finishing). Perez did well to finish in 7th place from a qualifying position of 12th.

The other Ozzie's happy to bring his HRT car home in one piece

Errors

McLaren's botched pit stop for Button meant the lollilop was lifted before his right front tyre was fitted (McLaren was later fined for this error). Both Team Lotus cars developed problems and didn't finish the race. Kobayashi's Sauber overheated and was forced to retire. The final DNF at the British Grand Prix was Sebastian Buemi whose tyre was punctured after clipping Paul Di Resta's front wing.

Top 10: Alonso, Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Massa, Rosberg, Perez, Heidfeld, Schumacher, Alguersuari.

Podium Photo by @atmoorehead