Lewis Hamilton took full advantage of a crash involving his two Red Bull rivals to claim victory and head Jenson Button home in a dramatic McLaren one-two in Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix.
The 25-year-old, who had started second on the grid, was third after a poor pit-stop had delayed him briefly when championship leader
Mark Webber was sent spinning off the track by his hot-headed Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
The collision cost Webber, 33, what looked certain to be a hat-trick after wins in Spain and Monaco and left Vettel, 22, in the gravel and out of contention — but delivered a gift-wrapped 43 points to the McLaren men.
It was 2008 champion Hamilton’s first win of the year, the 12th of his career and his first since last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“I don’t know what happened, but they collided and we got past them and we had a bit of a battle — a fair one, I must say — before the end,” said Hamilton.
“It was a great result for the team and I am happy to dedicate it to my dad for his 50th birthday tomorrow.”
Button said: “It was a great duel with Lewis towards the end — I had the run into turn 12, on the outside, and I just had to have a go.
“We were wheel to wheel for five corners — and it was fun, but he
got me back at turn one and after that it was back to ‘fuel save’ mode.”
Hamilton had not only to beat the self-destructing Red Bulls, but also a vigorous challenge from Button.
The two McLaren men raced wheel to wheel on lap 48 and even touched before Hamilton emerged in front and led the defending world champion home in a result that lifted them to the top of the constructors’ title race.
The decisive incident came when Webber was leading with Vettel second when the young German made an ill-judged passing move — and steered right into the Australian’s car, sending both off the circuit.
Webber, the drivers' championship leader, managed to recover and re-join in third place, but the impetuous Vettel’s race was over. A big shame for the team,” said Webber.
Force India
among points
Adrian Sutil’s ninth place finish earned Force India a couple of precious points while Hispania driver Karun Chandhok was classified 20th though he could not finish the race.
— Agencies