Jenson Button was the winner of the 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix, proving that he is the best driver under mixed conditions. The weather has been changing all the time, with rain drops falling, the track drying and the drops falling again. Strategy has been crucial during the race. McLaren's strategy along with the Briton's ability to take care of his tyres was the winning combination. This has been the best way for Button to celebrate his 200th Grand Prix.
The race started under light rain and all drivers were on intermediates. Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton made it to the first turn first, followed by Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso. Alonso lost his place to Nico Rosberg while Vettel and Hamilton had the most spectacular fight of the season which ended on lap 6 with Hamilton taking the first place after the German made a mistake which led him outside the track.
The first driver to pit was Mark Webber on lap 11 to change to soft dry tyres. Alonso had already passed Nico Rosberg by that time and he was on a series of flying laps, braking the fastest lap record lap after lap.
The first pit stop round completed for the leaders on lap 13. Lewis Hamilton was leading the race, followed by Vettel, Button and Alonso. The Spaniard lost over 1.5sec in his pits, as his mechanics continued what seems like a tradition of bad pit stops.
Lewis Hamilton was the fastest man on track braking on lap record after another. Vettel was unable to follow the Briton. Jenson Button attacked him at the end of the start-finish straight and took P2, as Mark Webber passed Alonso for P4.
By lap 25, the fastest man on track was Jenson Button as Lewis Hamilton was facing overheating problems with his tyres. Nick Heidfeld had to retire from the race just after his pit stop as his Renault caught fire.
Webber and Alonso stopped together on lap 27. Ferrari made another terrible pit stop causing Alonso to lose 3sec to Webber. The Spaniard managed to close the gap by lap 32. Mark Webber started delaying him playing his Number 2 driver role greatly and protecting Vettel.
Alonso was the first to make his third pit stop on lap 37, and started flying in an effort to catch the leaders, who seemed to have chosen to stay on their second set of tyres longer. Alonso passed in front of Webber who stopped 3 laps later to take on a soft set of tyres (instead of his last set of super softs), in an effort to make it to the end. The strategies has changed for everyone, with some teams choosing to use their last super soft sets, while others opted for the soft set.
Alonso's flying laps only lasted for 4 laps, as the conditions favoured the soft tyres. Jenson Button Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel were on them. Jenson Button passed Hamilton on lap 47 after Lewis had a spin. Vettel was just behind them. Fernando Alonso mad his 4th pit stop to take on a soft set of tyres. The rain had started again. The situation seemed to favour Hamilton, who had to make another pit stop. Alonso seemed to be the big looser at the same time, as he had just stopped for what seemed to be his last tyre change
Hamilton regained P1 on lap 51 as Button went off track due to oversteer. Button passed Lewis again on the next lap, only to lose his place again a turn later as one mistake follwed another by all drivers. The rain was doing its magic.
Hamilton stopped for his last stop to take on a set of intermediates. This has been a huge risk for both Hamilton and Webber as the rain seemed to be light. Mark Webber and Red Bull understood this and immediately called Webber in to change back to softs, destroying his race. Hamilton didi the same right after he lost his place to Alonso on lap 54.
A lap later Hamilton was handed a drive through penalty for his dangerous maneuver during his spin, a few laps before.
By lap 57 the podium places seemed to have cleared, with Button leading, followed by Vettel and Alonso. Another battle that remained was the one between Webber and Hamilton for P4. The real fight though, was further behind for P8, with five cars driving side by side, as Di Resta, Buemi, Rosberg, Kobayashi and Alguersuari fought for the best place. A few laps later Hamilton and Webber caught them, being a lap ahead. Hamilton dove and passed Weber during the lapping of the slower cars. An incredible overtaking.
After the end of the race the big winner has clearly been Sebastian Vettel who increased the gap between him and his main rivals, Hamilton and Alonso and made a huge step towards his second F1 world title. As we head into the summer break and with 8 races yet to go, we don't think that many things can change on top. If we would make a prediction we would say that Vettel will be crowned champion after a few more races, certainly before the Indian race.
The race results are as follows :
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
