Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Budapest, Hungary, Aug 03, 2008

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen won the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, near Budapest, and achieved the third consecutive victory for the team after two wins by Lewis Hamilton. After 70 laps (306.458 kms), Heikki won 11.0sec ahead of Timo Glock (Toyota) after leader Felipe Massa (Ferrari) retired three laps from the end. It is Heikki’s first grand prix victory in his 28th Formula 1 race; he is the 100th grand prix winner in F1 history since 1950. Lewis ended up fifth after suffering from a damaged tyre on lap 41 and a slow drive back to the pits for an early second stop. After 11 out of 18 races, Lewis maintained the overall lead with 62 points. Heikki is sixth with 38 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes moved up to second place with 100 points; Ferrari leads with 111 points.


The start: Lewis and Heikki started from an all Vodafone McLaren Mercedes front row; Lewis had achieved his 10th pole position in Formula 1 whilst Heikki lined up second on the grid. Both were passed by Massa at the start and were second and third respectively after the opening lap.
The race, lap 10: Lewis was second, 2.8sec behind Massa whilst Heikki followed in third place, 4.8sec behind his team mate.
Lap 18: Lewis took the lead ahead of Heikki when Massa came in for his first pit stop.
Lap 19: Lewis pitted for the first time and was stationary for 9.4sec; he resumed in sixth place whilst Heikki took the lead.
Lap 21: Heikki pitted from the lead (9.9sec) and dropped to seventh.
Lap 25: After the top five had completed their respective first pit stops, Lewis was second behind Massa; Heikki followed in third place.
Lap 41: In the first sector, Lewis suffered from a damaged left front tyre and drove slowly back to the pits. He rejoined the race after 8.8sec in 10th place with fresh tyres and enough fuel for a long final stint. Heikki was second
Lap 44: Massa came in for his second pit stop and Heikki took the lead.
Lap 48: Heikki pitted for the second time (6.8sec) and resumed in fourth place. Lewis was ninth.
Lap 55: The top 10 drivers had completed their respective second pit stops. Heikki was second again and Lewis improved to sixth.
Lap 68: Massa stopped on the front straight and Heikki took the lead. Lewis was now fifth.
Lap 70 (finish): Heikki took the chequered flag for his first grand prix win; Lewis finished in fifth place and maintained the overall lead.

Comments

Heikki Kovalainen
“There have been races this year where I’ve been in a position to challenge for victory but had something go wrong for me. Halfway through this race, things started working for me and I started pushing Felipe hard – and it worked. I feel sorry for Felipe because he drove a great race, but my car felt good and I knew I could push for the victory. This is a great moment for me, something I’ve been targeting for many years. Hopefully, this victory will be the first of many.”

Lewis Hamilton
“Congratulations to Heikki for his first and very well deserved grand prix win. The race could have been better for me. My start was okay, but Felipe’s was better and he managed to overtake me. I managed to maintain the gap during the first stint and felt comfortable in the second stint because I was matching his times but was going to be running longer to the final stops. I feel I could have had a go at passing him, but the damaged tyre halted my progress. I don’t yet know what happened. But at least I scored four points and maintained my lead in the championship, so this result is not too bad for me."

Ron Dennis
“One of the oldest motor racing phrases ever coined is: ‘To finish first, first you have to finish.’ Hackneyed it may be, but it's true nonetheless. Even so, you have to feel sorry for Felipe, who did a very good job. But Heikki drove superbly, scoring his first grand prix victory in fine style and converting his excellent qualifying pace, which has been apparent all season, into a thoroughly well deserved win.
“Lewis’s race was compromised by his losing the lead at the start; but we fuelled him long for the second stint and therefore believed he was well placed to leapfrog Felipe in his final pitstop. Sadly for him, though, it wasn’t to be: damage to his front-left tyre cost him that victory chance. However, from Lewis’s perspective, as bad days go, it could have been a lot worse. But today was Heikki’s day, and a very good day it was, and everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is absolutely delighted for him.”

Norbert Haug
“I’m sorry for Felipe and Ferrari. Lewis had bad luck with the tyre, Felipe with the engine. Heikki’s first win is sensational and he deserves it. We are obviously successful with our Finns; first Mika, then Kimi and now Heikki. Without the damaged tyre, Lewis also had a chance of victory; until then his race went according to plan and his strategy with a later second stop could have put him ahead of Felipe. Congratulations to Timo and Toyota on their second place – today Timo kept the world champion behind him. The podium showed again that the fight for the World Championship will remain very exciting. During the so-called summer break, we will continue to work hard to be well prepared for the next race on Valencia's street circuit which will be new for everybody.”






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