Hungarian Grand Prix (2011) RESULT

Hungary F1 Grand Prix 2011

Back to normal service at the Hungaroring, with Sebastian Vettel on pole. But the McLarens of Button and Hamilton are snapping at his heels. How did it all play out?

The 2011 Hungary Grand Prix marks the 200th Grand Prix for Jenson Button, and is also the scene of his first Grand Prix win, a win made in very similar weather conditions – overcast with intermittent rain – as the Hungaroring presented in 2011. A good omen, perhaps?

As it turned out the often boring Hungarian Grand Prix was a properly good show. Hamilton and Button were wheel to wheel off the line – proper team racing which other teams would do well to emulate – but it was Hamilton who initially dominated, even managing to pass pole-sitter Vettel.

But despite Lewis once more doing his best impression of an F1 Jack Russell, it was Jenson Button doing his best impression of Alain Prost that won the day, as it so often does in tricky conditions.

Lewis managed to duck and dive and slide and spin, receiving a drive-through penalty for forcing Paul di Resta to drive off track whilst flipping his car round after a spin, and picking the wrong tyres as the rain failed to arrive in huge quantities. He worked his little socks off but only managed fourth after the trials and tribulations of the day.

A day that belonged to Button. He did the wheel to wheel stuff when needed but he just sailed on serenely round the track, finding grip where others failed and always looking likely to take the win. Which he did, with a comfortable margin from Vettel in second and a quarter of a lap ahead of Alonso in third.

Behind the leading group Webber had a poor day, never really finding his feet at the Hungaroring, but new Brit Boy Paul di Resta managed a manful seventh, despite Hamilton doing his best to take him out after his spin.

Buemi was a bit of a star too, managing to finish in eight despite starting at the back of the grid, but it was a poor day for Schumacher who retired with a broken gearbox.

But the day was McLaren’s, with Hamilton and Button vying for the lead throughout and making the Hungaroring an exciting race in the process. But it was Professor Button’s sublime skill and beautifully judged drive that won the day from the ducking and diving of Hamilton – and deservedly so.

Sadly, it all may be in vain for the championships with Vettel now 88 points ahead of Hamilton and 100 points ahead of Button. But it will be McLaren who win hearts and minds in 2011 with performances like this.