Hungarian Grand Prix

By Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Michael on pole but Kimi wins the Grand Prix of Hungary

Michael Schumacher gave the tifosi a glimmer of hope for the rest of the season by putting the Ferrari on the pole position, but when it was all said and done, Kimi Raikkonen showed that the McLaren Mercedes is very fast when it isn't falling apart. Michael would try and hold on to the lead, but would finish the day on the second highest step on the podium. The new Bridgestones look like they can take the fight to the wire and if the Japanese tire company can continue to provide rubber this good, the championship may be decided later in the season than people have thought.

While the McClunker may have finished first, the second one piloted by Juan Pablo Montoya ended up with a broken half shaft mid way through the race. Ideally, the car would fall apart as it crossed the finish line; someone needs to let the boys from Woking in on this tidbit.

Ralf Schumacher would finish the race in third, proving to the suits in Japan that he should be worth just a little less than his higher paid older brother and he was hot on the elder's tail when they crossed the finish line. The younger brother did finish better than his team mate who tangled with Alonso earlier in the race, but a 3-4 finish for Toyota is still good PR, especially when the highest Honda finisher was in fifth.

Jenson Button was that fifth place finisher, but rather than try and build his reputation by results on the race track, he's playing his hand as an attorney and being a contract specialist and making a mess about going to Williams next year. This one is going to get ugly before it gets better. Sato-san finished in eighth place, getting a single point, probably getting a few extra Yen this month.

Speaking of Williams, Sir Frank's boys would finish in sixth and seventh, with the German ahead. The team is struggling and it's not pretty to see them in disarray. The move by BMW to go after Sauber has left the British team struggling. No wonder Jenson is trying to make news some other way…

There was a change this weekend with both Renaults being also-rans. Fisichella drove an uneventful race and finished behind Rubens Barichello who finished in tenth, giving the Italian press a target to go after this week. That finish by Fisi was ahead of the "do no wrong" team mate, who got tangled up during the start. Oops. Finishing out of the points did help the Finn's title chances.

Jordan? Who cares. Sauber? Nada. Minardi? You're kidding, right?

What was interesting was Red Bull. Both cars failed the opening lap, Klien going tail over tin cup in turn one after bumping with Jacques-I'm-just-lucky-to-be-here-Villeneuve. David Coulthard tried to get the attention of the cameras with a shattering front suspension, sending carbon fiber razor shards everywhere. Not great for points, but a "good show" for replays.

With the Renaults out, it still has a chance to heat up to a down to the wire race. The next installment is in three weeks in Turkey. Flabio would be upset if his drivers turn out to be turkeys then.