Hungarian Grand Prix 2013 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton broke Red Bull's winning streak by claiming a masterful victory at the Hungaroring, Mercedes' first win since the tire changes that had blunted their competitiveness. Starting from pole position, Hamilton controlled the race with precision around Budapest's twisty circuit, holding off Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus and Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull. The British driver's victory was crucial for maintaining championship interest and proving Mercedes could still compete at the front despite the regulatory changes.

The race featured Hamilton at his strategic and tactical best, managing his tires expertly on a circuit where track position and tire preservation were paramount. Raikkonen's second place continued his remarkable consistency with another podium finish, keeping him in championship contention. Vettel could only manage third, suggesting that Red Bull's dominance had limits and certain circuit characteristics could still level the playing field for their rivals.

Hamilton's Hungarian victory would prove to be Mercedes' final win of the 2013 season, making it all the more significant in hindsight. The triumph demonstrated that Mercedes had the speed to challenge Red Bull but lacked the consistency to mount a sustained championship campaign. Mark Webber's fastest lap indicated Red Bull had the raw pace but couldn't translate it into victory on this occasion, though they would soon embark on an historic winning run that would render such defeats irrelevant.