The 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix was the eleventh race of the 2007 Formula One season, held between 3 to 5 August at the Hungaroring racing track in Budapest. It was also memorable for an incident in the Saturday qualifying session, between Lewis Hamilton and teammate Fernando Alonso.
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) went into the race with a 2-point advantage in World Championship points over his teammate, Fernando Alonso, and was 11 points ahead of 3rd place man Felipe Massa after a chaotic European Grand Prix whilst McLaren held a 27 point lead in the Constructors' Championship over their main rivals Ferrari.
Japanese former Super Aguri driver Sakon Yamamoto filled the second Spyker car, replacing European GP leader, German Markus Winkelhock.
Sebastian Vettel, the youngest Grand Prix point scorer made his second Grand Prix start replacing Scott Speed at Scuderia Toro Rosso.
1996 Champion Damon Hill was guest colour commentator for the race, on ITV's coverage in the United Kingdom. He won the Hungarian Grand Prix twice, in 1993 and 1995 for Williams-Renault.
Controversy hit the qualifying sessions when Alonso held Hamilton up in the pit lane, denying Hamilton a chance to record a final lap time. Stewards later dropped Alonso five places down the starting grid of the race, putting him in sixth while Hamilton started in pole position. McLaren were also told they would lose any Constructor's Championship points they win in the race and wouldn't be presented with a winning constructor's trophy on the podium if one of their drivers were to win the race. The team stated Hamilton's hold-up was not Alonso's fault (although Alonso gave the stewards a different explanation, that he was inquiring about his tyres), and that Hamilton had disobeyed team orders to let Alonso pass him, which put the two drivers out of sequence for their pit stops. McLaren had initially expressed their intent to appeal the Constructor's points penalty but ultimately withdrew their appeal after subsequently losing all their Constructor's points as penalty for the espionage scandal.
Read more about 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix: Championship Standings After The Race
Famous quotes containing the word grand:
“This we take it is the grand characteristic of our age. By our skill in Mechanism, it has come to pass, that in the management of external things we excel all other ages; while in whatever respects the pure moral nature, in true dignity of soul and character, we are perhaps inferior to most civilised ages.”
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)