Sebastian Vettel has extended his world championship lead with victory in the Hungarian GP ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas.
Vettel, handicapped for most of the race by a steering issue, was indebted to team-mate Raikkonen not challenging him for the lead as his pace evaporated.
In a highly risk but sporting move, Lewis Hamilton surrendered third place to Mercedes stable-mate Bottas at the final corner after previously being let through by the Finn.
The result means Vettel will take a fourteen-point lead over Hamilton into the summer break.
With internal politics rather than pace ultimately deciding Ferrari’s finishing order, Mercedes’ decision to swap their drivers on the last lap will be fiercely debated.
As Vettel’s pace disappeared, and with an exasperated Raikkonen unable to persuade his Ferrari pitwall to allow him to overtake the stricken lead car, Hamilton had immediately unfurled sufficient had enough pace to catch the Ferrari train but not enough to overtake rear-gunner Raikkonen around a Hungaroring circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.
Hamilton slowed down by as much as five seconds on the final lap to let Bottas back through and crossed the line fractionally ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman had earlier been embroiled in the race’s most controversial incident when he crashed into team-mate Daniel Ricciardo at the second corner…
MORE: Hungarian GP: Sebastian Vettel wins after a favour from Kimi Raikkonnen | F1 News
