Jul.29 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton dominated the Hungarian grand prix weekend from start to finish.
But Sunday was still a very happy 31st birthday for runaway championship leader Fernando Alonso, despite the Ferrari driver finishing just fifth at the Hungaroring.
The Spaniard’s closest points rival, Mark Webber, had an even poorer weekend near Budapest, allowing Alonso’s 34 point lead to pull out to 40 as F1 now races into a five-week vacation period.
Hamilton, nonetheless happy with his win from pole, is 47 points adrift, but the gap was 62 before Sunday’s race began.
“Lewis said to me a couple of days ago, ‘Dad, I’ve got to win the next ten races to win this championship’,” Hamilton’s father and former manager Anthony told British Sky television immediately after his son won in Hungary.
Lewis Hamilton said: “I am looking forward to the continuation of the championship. A long way to go and a lot of work to do but we have shown we can compete.”
But, even on an impressive Sunday, he was run close by the two Lotuses, moving Hamilton to reminisce just before walking onto the podium: “Just like old times, Kimi.
“You guys are quick,” the Briton told Raikkonen and also the other Lotus driver, Romain Grosjean.
Finn Raikkonen, however, just wants to win, but – after 69 laps – he finished one second behind the winner with a KERS problem.
“We are not happy until we win,” the 2007 world champion told Spanish tenor Placido Domingo on the podium.
