Sebastian Vettel snaps Mercedes’ dominance with Hungarian Grand Prix win

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel won an action-packed Hungarian Grand Prix for the first time on Sunday, while Nico Rosberg blew his chances of catching Lewis Hamilton in the title race when he punctured a tire near the end.

Four-time F1 champion Vettel started third on the grid. It was his 41st career win and first since the Malaysian GP in the second race of this season.

Red Bull took advantage of late chaos as Russian driver Daniil Kvyat placed second and Daniel Ricciardo, who clipped Rosberg, took third.

Vettel’s win put the German driver back into the title race, as Hamilton finished sixth and Rosberg placed eighth.

“Thank you Jules, this win is for you,” Vettel said in French on race radio, before continuing in English. “You are always in our hearts, sooner or later we know you would have been in this team.”

A poignant minute’s silence was held in honor of Bianchi before the race, with drivers forming a ring and placing their race helmets on the ground. Bianchi’s mother Christine and father Philippe, brother Tom and sister Melanie joined them as they all linked arms on the Hungaroring grid.

The race completely changed after German driver Nico Hulkenberg crashed and the virtual safety car came out, with Vettel in total control at that point.

With five laps to go and Hamilton well out of contention, Rosberg was catching Vettel. But Ricciardo — the winner here last year — tried a daring overtaking move and instead ran into the back of the German driver, puncturing his left tire.

Instead of gaining points from Hamilton, Rosberg slipped further back in the title race.

It is the first time Hamilton has failed to finish on the podium since the Belgian GP last August, where he was nudged off the track by Rosberg and retired.