Lewis Hamilton wins Hungarian Grand Prix, a first for Mercedes

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton seized his first win for Mercedes in the Hungarian heat on Sunday while Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel forged 38 points clear in the Formula One championship after finishing third.

“This is probably one of the most important Grand Prix wins of my career,” Hamilton told the crowd after his fourth win at the Hungaroring circuit in seven years but his first with a team other than McLaren.

“I could not be happier. I hope there is plenty more to come. We have to work hard but if we can make the tyres last here we can do it anywhere.”

Kimi Raikkonen, who could be Vettel’s team mate next season, took second place for Lotus - 10.9 seconds behind Hamilton - after doing one stop fewer and holding off the German in the tense closing laps to the delight of thousands of Finns in the crowd.

“I told Kimi I was not happy but he was laughing. That’s racing,” Vettel, who had complained over the radio after one failed attempt to pass that Raikkonen had not given him enough room, said with a smile.

Hungary marked the midpoint in the season and after 10 of the 19 races Vettel goes into the August break with 172 points to Raikkonen’s 134.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso lost ground and now has 133 after finishing fifth. Hamilton is on 124.