F1 2016: Hamilton Takes the Championship Lead With Hungarian GP Victory
Sameer Contractor
1 min read
Jul 25, 2016, 02:38 AM
Claiming his fifth victory this season, Mercedes-AMG driver Lewis Hamilton secured the number one position at the Hungarian Grand Prix, also taking the lead in championship standings surpassing teammate Nico Rosberg (+1.977s). While Rosberg started at the pole, the race was pretty much decided at turn one when Hamilton passed the German driver and went on to lead the race for the remainder of the 69 laps. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo finished a well-deserved yet distant third (+27.539s), fending off competition from the very aggressive Sebastian Vettel (+28.213s).
After claiming a podium at the British GP, Max Verstappen (+48.659) had to settle for fifth as both Red Bull cars were simply no match for the Mercedes W07s. Verstappen though managed to maintain his pace despite continued efforts from Kimi Raikkonen (+49.044) to overtake the Red Bull driver after the latter had the initial lead in the battle for the fifth place. Finishing seventh was Fernando Alonso (+1 lap), securing this season's best weekend, ahead of Carlo Seinz (+1 lap) of Torro Rosso. Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Nico Hulkenberg of Sahara Force India finished ninth and tenth respectively with teammate Sergio Perez (+1 lap) finishing 11th.
Most drivers opted for the two pitstop strategy running on softs and then supersofts with the sun shining brightly throughout the 70 laps, even though the qualifying sessions were more of a slush fest. Hamilton maintained his pace for most of the race with the gap extending to 4 seconds. The battle however, turned for the fifth place after Raikkonen tried to take the inside line and ended up damaging his front wing after making contact with Verstappen's Red Bull. Nevertheless, the Dutch driver maintained his lead.
The Hungary GP saw only one retirement occur, that of Jenson Button, who faced a stuck pedal as his car lost hydraulic pressure and was asked not to shift. The McLaren driver soon pitted but was put under investigation for breaching radio communication rules. He was handed a drive-through penalty later. Kvyat was also put under investigation for speeding in the pitlane and received a 5-second penalty.
It was Hamilton's fifth win at the Hungaroring, making him the most successful driver on the circuit beating Michael Schumacher's record. The Brit lad now stands on the top with a six-point advantage over Rosberg. With the half races for the season complete, the German GP is up next, which is Rosberg's home ground and will give the driver an opportunity for redemption. Things are certainly going to be more aggressive from here.
After claiming a podium at the British GP, Max Verstappen (+48.659) had to settle for fifth as both Red Bull cars were simply no match for the Mercedes W07s. Verstappen though managed to maintain his pace despite continued efforts from Kimi Raikkonen (+49.044) to overtake the Red Bull driver after the latter had the initial lead in the battle for the fifth place. Finishing seventh was Fernando Alonso (+1 lap), securing this season's best weekend, ahead of Carlo Seinz (+1 lap) of Torro Rosso. Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Nico Hulkenberg of Sahara Force India finished ninth and tenth respectively with teammate Sergio Perez (+1 lap) finishing 11th.
Lewis Hamilton at Hungary GP
The Hungary GP saw only one retirement occur, that of Jenson Button, who faced a stuck pedal as his car lost hydraulic pressure and was asked not to shift. The McLaren driver soon pitted but was put under investigation for breaching radio communication rules. He was handed a drive-through penalty later. Kvyat was also put under investigation for speeding in the pitlane and received a 5-second penalty.
Hungarian GP marks the half past marker for this F1 season
Related News
Popular Ferrari Models
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
car&bike Team | Mar 4, 2026Kawasaki Patents Modular Electric Motorcycle PlatformWhile the concept of one chassis and multiple powertrains isn’t particularly new, it will allow for simplified production and pass savings onto the consumer.2 mins read
car&bike Team | Mar 4, 2026Jetour T2 SUV Design Patent Registered In IndiaA design patent linked to a Jetour T2-based SUV has surfaced in India, hinting at JSW Motors’ upcoming entry into the passenger vehicle market.2 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Mar 4, 2026Next-Gen Hyundai i20 Spy Photos Give Glimpses Of Its Updated CabinThe cabin of the new Hyundai i20 will take inspiration from the new Venue’s interior.1 min read
Amaan Ahmed | Mar 4, 2026Renault Bridger Sub-4M SUV Concept Confirmed: 'Mini Duster' To Be Previewed On March 10Adopting a two-pronged strategy for India's incredibly competitive subcompact SUV market, Renault will take the wraps off a boxy, upright SUV concept that's expected to coexist with the Kiger.3 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Mar 4, 2026Honda City, Elevate, And Amaze Available With Huge Discounts In MarchUpto Rs 1.97 lakh benefit on the City and Elevate, while both the old-gen and new-gen Amaze are available with a discount of up to Rs 68,0001 min read
car&bike Team | Mar 4, 20262026 World Car Awards: Top 3 Finalists Announced Across CategoriesFinalists for the 2026 World Car Awards have been announced across six categories, with winners to be revealed in April.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Feb 28, 2026Tata Punch EV Facelift Review: More Range, More Sense, Less MoneyThe Tata Punch EV facelift gets a bigger 40 kWh battery, faster 60 kW DC charging, improved thermal management, and better real-world range, and all of that at a lower introductory price. But does it become a more complete package now?6 mins read
Preetam Bora | Feb 24, 2026Hero Destini 110 Review: Simplicity, RefinedThe Hero Destini 110 is a no-nonsense commuter that is simple, comfortable and above all, fuel efficient. In 2026, when buyers are spoilt for choice, is it good enough to consider?1 min read
Preetam Bora | Feb 23, 2026TVS Apache RTX Road Test Review: Redefining the Entry-Level ADVAfter spending some time with the TVS Apache RTX in traffic, the daily commute, as well as on open highways, one thing becomes clear: the RTX is trying to redefine the entry-level ADV segment. But is it without fault?1 min read
Girish Karkera | Feb 20, 2026Road Test: 2025 VinFast VF7 AWD Sky InfinityFlagship all-electric SUV from the Vietnamese car maker gets most of the basics right.1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Feb 18, 2026New BMW X3 30 Vs Mercedes-Benz GLC 300: Midsize Luxury SUV FaceoffWith the new X3 30, BMW has a direct competitor to the petrol GLC 300, but which is the luxury SUV for you?1 min read