Webber Triumphant in Hungary as Hamilton Forced to Retire

Published : August 02, 2010 :: 13:08:16 [ 734 views ]

Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber snatched back the championship lead on Sunday, winning the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver took the victory ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and teammate Sebastian Vettel.

Hungary, the 1^st of August 2010: McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, the championship leader prior to Sunday’s race, was forced to retire with a gearbox failure in his second DNF of the season. Hamilton’s exit and the inability of Vettel to convert his seventh pole of the season into a win, meant Australian Webber finished the race atop the championship leader-board.

“It was a bit of a gift today for me,” said Webber, his delight on the podium contrasting with Vettel’s glum, scowling face. “But I have not had many of them so I will take today’s. Referring to what was in effect a slow controlled race on a tight track, Webber exclaimed that he had thought the victory was Vettel’s after he gained pole position.

In his fourth win of the season, Webber did everything right, choosing to stay out when others pitted under the safety car, with a penalty for “failing to keep a safe distance” under the safety car to Vettel giving him the lead and subsequent victory.

Pit-stop chaos dominated the race, with a loose wheel from Mercedes Nico Roseburg knocking out a mechanic before being caught, while Renault’s Robert Kubica collided in the pit-lane with Force India’s Adrian Sutil.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso finished in second behind Webber with teammate Felipe Massa taking fourth in the race that nearly ended in fatality for the Brazilian in the 2009 season. Despite being fined US$50,000 for the pit incident, Renault’s spirits were raised with Russian driver Vitaly Petrov’s fifth place finish.

Williams and Sauber took some rare points with Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg finishing sixth and Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa in seventh. Reigning champion Jenson Button finished a disappointing eighth.

The top ten was rounded off with more points for the minnows as Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi finished ninth for Sauber and former Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello finished tenth for Williams.