Hamilton wins Hungarian GP as Webber closes gap on Button

BUDAPEST - Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren-Mercedes claimed his first win of the 2009 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix Sunday while Red Bull’s Mark Webber finished on the podium to close the gap on championship leader Jenson Button.

The defending world champion started from fourth of the grid but managed to claim a comfortable victory at the Hungaroring from Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Webber.

Nico Rosberg of Williams managed fourth with Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen fifth and Toyota’s Timo Glock sixth.

Championship leader Jenson Button of Brawn GP finished down in seventh place ahead of Jarno Trulli in the second Toyota.

However, the result is subject to a post-race investigation into Raikkonen over the Finn’s swerving into the path of Red Bull’s Vettel at the first corner.

The result sees Button continue to head the standings with now 70 points after 10 races, followed by Webber on 51.5. Vettel remains on 47 points after failing to finish, three clear of Brawn’s Rubens Barrichello, who finished out of the points.

Fernando Alonso, who started the race from pole, led early on while Vettel dropped from second after struggling on the dirty part of the track and was passed by teammate Webber and also touched Raikkonen to lie seventh eventually at the end of the first lap.

Hamilton managed to overtake Webber at the end of the pit straight on lap five while Alonso, who started light on fuel, was the first to pit on lap 11 but the two-time world champion’s race was ruined after he lost his front right tyre after it was not replaced correctly.

Webber and Raikkonen pitted with 51 laps remaining and both drivers nearly clashed after the Red Bull driver was released into the path of the Finn’s Ferrari.

Raikkonen exited ahead of Webber, who was also briefly behind Rosberg before regaining his place on the Williams driver.

Vettel’s race ended with 41 laps remaining after problems with his front suspension caused by the collision with Raikkonen.

Raikkonen had trouble finding a gear when leaving the pits after his second stop with 25 laps to go but still returned safely while Hamilton pitted a lap later, returning in top spot ahead of Webber, who came in for his final stop with 20 laps to go, returning in front of Rosberg.

Holding a comfortable lead, Hamilton was able to ease his McLaren home for a first race win since the Chinese GP in October 2008.

Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari safely concluded his first GP to become the youngest-ever driver to compete in Formula One after replacing Sebasiten Bourdais mid-season at the Red Bull sister team.