Hungarian GP

Defending champion Sebastian Vettel returned to the podium after an absence of one week on Sunday, finishing second behind Jenson Button of McLaren Mercedes in an incident-packed Hungarian Grand Prix.

The second-place finish allowed Vettel to increase his lead atop the drivers' standings with 234 points from the season's 11 races so far. His Red Bull teammate Mark Webber is a distant second with 149.

The German, who finished a disappointing fourth in his home Grand Prix at the Nürburgring last Sunday, started the race from the pole position but lost his lead in the fifth lap when he was easily overtaken on the wet track by Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.

Hamilton, who also started from the front row of the grid, led for large portions of the race before spinning out in the rain on the 47th lap. He was subsequently assessed a drive-through penalty, which ended his hopes of taking the checkered flag for a second consecutive race.

For a time, after Button overtook Vettel, both McLarens led the pack.

Key decision

A decision by both Button and Vettel to stay with slicks even after rain set in during the race's second half made at least part of the difference. During the race there were a record 88 trips to the pits as the drivers struggled to adjust to changing track conditions.

"The team said we are going to pit for intermediates and for me that was a big surprise," Button told a post-race news conference.

"I was never going to come in for inters. I didn't think it was the right choice personally. I braved it on the slicks and it was definitely the right call. You are not always going to make the right call in these conditions and I haven't always."

Despite his 85-point lead in the drivers' standings, Vettel and his Red Bull team have lost their momentum going into the Formula One season's summer break, as McLaren drivers have now won three out of the last five races.

"Second is an important step, but the win was in reach and we didn't get it,” a disappointed Vettel said.

"It has been clear for a couple of races they (McLaren) have made a step forward. We need to come back."

Still optimistic

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was upbeat about the result, despite the fact that Vettel has won just one of the last five races after taking five of the first six.

"All things considered second is still very valuable. It was such a lottery in those conditions. We have a lot of work to do," Horner said.

Germany's seven-time drivers' champion, Michael Schumacher, was forced to retire from the race with gearbox problems.

The Formula One circuit now has a month off until its next race, the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa on August. 28.

Author: Chuck Penfold (dpa, AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Kyle James