Vettel wins for Bianchi, Ferrari on emotional day

GERMANY’S Sebastian Vettel delivered an emotional high-speed tribute to his late colleague, Jules Bianchi, yesterday when he stormed to victory for Ferrari in a dramatic and incident-filled Hungarian Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion claimed his second victory of the season and 41st of his career — drawing him level with the late Brazilian legend, Ayrton Senna, in equal third on the all-time list — after leading from the start to dominate a thrilling and unpredictable contest at the Hungaroring circuit outside Budapest.

The Red Bull pair of Russian Daniil Kvyat and Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished second and third, respectively.
The ferocity of the contest, lit up by Vettel’s blazing speed and tenacity, served as an appropriate tribute to Frenchman Bianchi, who died on July 17 from injuries sustained when he collided with a recovery vehicle in torrential rain at last October’s Japanese GP.

A minute’s silence for Bianchi, a Ferrari academy prodigy, before the race created an emotional atmosphere that was reflected in the action and in Vettel’s speech to the Ferrari team on his triumphant slowdown lap.

“Merci Jules, c’est a toi,” said the winner. “Thank you Jules, You will always be in our hearts. This win is for you.”

It was Vettel’s first victory in Hungary, and 21-year-old Kvyat’s first career podium — the best ever by a Russian driver — as Red Bull produced a reminder of its pedigree. It was the first podium this year without a Mercedes driver.