2016 F1 Round 11 Hungarian Grand Prix – Hamilton wins and takes championship lead, Rosberg second

The Hungarian Grand Prix took place in Budapest on July 24. Hamilton started second and passed polesitter Rosberg at the start to take the lead.

Archive photograph of the grid at the Hungaroring in Budapest during the 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Hamilton subsequently gave up first place only briefly during the pit stops. On lap 52, Gutiérrez held him up, allowing Rosberg to close to 0.6 seconds. Hamilton then locked up and went off at Turn 12 on lap 62 but regained control of his lead.

Rosberg finished second, 1.977 seconds behind his team-mate. Hamilton won and moved to the top of the drivers’ championship for the first time in the 2016 season. Rosberg’s pursuit did not change the order of the leading pair.

Ricciardo briefly passed Rosberg at Turn 1 on the opening lap, but Rosberg quickly retook the position at Turn 2. The Red Bull driver reduced his gap to Hamilton to less than five seconds during the middle part of the race and ultimately finished third. Vettel was fourth, 0.674 seconds behind Ricciardo.

Verstappen and Räikkönen fought a prolonged battle for fifth. Verstappen moved ahead after Räikkönen fitted fresh supersoft tyres on lap 50. On lap 57, Räikkönen tried to fight back at Turn 2 and made contact with the Red Bull, damaging a front-wing endplate. He ultimately finished sixth, 0.385 seconds behind.

Alonso finished seventh and received three track-limits warnings during the race. Sainz was eighth, Bottas ninth and Hülkenberg tenth, taking the final three points-paying positions.

Button was the only retirement. He reported his brake pedal sinking, then received a drive-through penalty for unauthorised radio communication. His car subsequently developed an oil leak, and he retired after completing 60 laps.

Hamilton led Rosberg by six points, 192 to 186. Ricciardo moved up to third in the drivers’ standings, while victory in Hungary put Hamilton at the top of the championship ahead of the summer break.