4 things we learned from Hungary: Jules Bianchi tributes, Sebastian Vettel makes his move

Updated 28/07/2015 at 14:15 GMT

After a dramatic and emotional race in Budapest, Will Gray picks out four talking points from the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Formula 1 drivers observe a minute of silence in memoriam of late French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi before the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit, near Budapest, Hungary July 26, 2015

Image credit: AFP

After a perfect Saturday it was damage limitation in Hungary for Lewis Hamilton and on a moving race day full of talking points, the drama-filled event ending in a Ferrari victory was just what F1 needed.

EMOTIONAL DEDICATION

Jules Bianchi would, most likely, have been racing for Ferrari next season if fate had not tragically had other plans, so it was fitting that Hungary gave the Italian team a victory to dedicate to him.

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The ultimate passing of such a talented young driver, some nine months after his freak Japanese Grand Prix crash, came just before last weekend’s race and understandably hit the sport hard. After a moment of reflection on the grid, many of the drivers struggled to gain focus in the early part of the race and Red Bull boss Christian Horner admitted Daniil Kvyat, for one, was not comfortable getting into the car after such an emotional tribute.

Yet, to a man it seemed, the focus was channelled to create one of the most exciting races for some time. All three of the podium finishers dedicated their races to Bianchi but it was third-placed Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo who perfectly explained everyone’s feelings after the race.

Red Bull Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia talks with the press wearing a cap displaying a message in memory of Jules Bianchi ahead the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, near Budapest, Hungary July 23, 2015.

Image credit: Reuters

“I put my heart into everything today,” he said. “I think that's the way Jules would have wanted it. I drove with a heavy but a strong heart and that makes me happy...”

For Vettel, it was also a significant milestone to another fallen star as his 41st victory matched Ayrton Senna’s tally of wins, an achievement that was not lost on a driver for whom, unlike many, the F1 history book means a lot. On Sunday, however, even that landmark took second billing.

“I don't know how to put this in words,” he said of his new milestone. “I think nevertheless today is for Jules and his family. I think that's bigger than everything else...”

BEWARE MR CONSISTENT?

Winner Ferrari Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit, near Budapest, Hungary July 26, 2015

Image credit: Reuters

Watch out, Mercedes, could Mr Consistent be coming up on the rails for a run to the finish? Sure, Hungary is a different proposition to most tracks, but a fair-and-square victory for Sebastian Vettel, coupled with the surprise struggles of the Mercedes pair, shows just how easy it could be for the Ferrari star to come into play in the title race. And it has sent F1 to its summer break with a tantalising proposition.

So much focus has been made on the dominance of Mercedes and the fight between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, but with 160 points Vettel is now within just one race win of Rosberg and two of Hamilton. Ferrari claimed after the race that it was not just a Hungary anomaly, but that getting stuck behind other cars has hidden the pace of the Ferrari in many races this year, causing them to wear their tyres harder and hampering their strategy.

Sure, Mercedes had the pace and threw it away but Vettel showed on Sunday that if he can get to the front he is a contender.

Mercedes don’t make mistakes very often, but if they do so again it could get interesting. Vettel has finished no lower than fifth all season and been on the podium in seven of the 10 races so far. And championships have been won on that level of consistency before...

ADVANTAGE EQUALISED

Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain walks before a news conference ahead of the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit, near Budapest, Hungary July 23, 2015

Image credit: Reuters

Hungary is an equaliser, with the tight twisty track negating much of the advantage enjoyed by teams with stronger engines and higher top speeds while also benefitting cars with more efficient high downforce. And although the Mercedes was still the fastest car out there, the fact the field was tightened up made them pay for their mistakes.

Not only was it the first time in 29 races that the Mercedes team failed to finish on the podium but in fact the highest finishing Mercedes-engined car, Hamilton, was down in sixth. Not since the Japanese Grand Prix in 2013, when Nico Rosberg was their best finisher in eighth, have they finished lower.

And the amazing thing is, even a Honda beat them...

McLAREN FAIR PLAY?

McLaren Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Spain drives during the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit, near Budapest, Hungary July 26, 2015.

Image credit: Reuters

McLaren Honda has failed massively this year, but the decision by the FIA to allow them a ‘bonus’ engine change for their troubles will sit heavy on some of the smaller teams – because it could cost the minnows millions in prize money. Honda claims to have finally made a breakthrough with reliability yet they were allowed to swap out their troubled power units with a fresh supply without penalty, despite using up all of their free changes.

While Honda digs deep to fund their failure recovery, McLaren is ploughing money into development of the car and brought new front wings, mirrors and super-slim sidepods into play in Hungary. It all added up to improved performance and, in a chaotic race, the team scored their first double points finish of the year.

But the development at McLaren is at levels teams like Manor, Force India, Sauber and Lotus can only dream of as, for many of the smaller teams, the budgets do not allow such rate of progress. Traditionally, the smaller teams score highest early then fade away as bigger teams over-develop them – so McLaren’s 12-point haul in Hungary is significant.

It leapt them up to just five points behind Sauber, who are still waiting for upgrades and have scored just four points in the last four races, and 14 behind Toro Rosso, who without Max Verstappen’s 12-point haul in Hungary would be just two ahead. So is it really fair that when the sport needs to share its revenue a bit and support the smaller teams, a team with such resources should be given such a leg-up?

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