Hungarian GP - Bridgestone - RaceHeikki Kovalainen recorded his first Formula One race after a tension-filled Hungarian Grand Prix. Kovalainen used a soft, soft and super-soft tyre strategy at the Hungaroring near Budapest to take the top step of the podium in his 28th
Grand Prix. The race had looked to be going the way of Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, until he retired from the lead with just three laps remaining following an engine failure.
Massa had led the field after overtaking pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton at the first corner and the duo maintained an advantage at the head of the field through much of the race. On lap 41, Hamilton suffered a deflated tyre, the exact cause of which is being investigated by Bridgestone and the team, which meant an early pit-stop from second position. Although this affected his strategy, he was able to fight back to finish in fifth.
Timo Glock crossed the line in second place, 11 seconds behind Kovalainen.
Kimi Raikkonen finished in third place and also set the race’s fastest lap, using the super-soft compound in his final stint to achieve a 1:21.195s best as he chased Glock.
Formula One now takes a brief break until the European Grand Prix on 22-24 August at the new street course in Valencia, Spain.
Bridgestone’s soft and super-soft compound Potenza tyres will be used again, in what is Bridgestone’s 200th Grand Prix since entering the sport in 1997.
Hirohide Hamashima, Tyre Development Director
“Congratulations to Heikki Kovalainen for scoring his first Grand Prix win, and also to Timo Glock for achieving his first F1 podium finish, especially after his accident in the last race. Performance from both compounds was good and the super soft was faster when we saw more rubber laid on the track, as we saw from
Kimi Raikkonen’s fastest lap. The super-soft also performed well in the case of David Coulthard, who used it to run a long first stint, starting the race with a heavy car. Regarding Lewis Hamilton’s tyre deflation, we are still investigating the reason for this as it is not immediately apparent from initial analysis, however a puncture from a sidewall cut looks to be the probable cause.”
Bridgestone Motorsport
