ISTANBUL: Lewis Hamilton took full advantage of a crash involving his two Red Bull rivals to claim victory and head Jenson Button home in a dramatic McLaren one-two in the Turkish Grand Prix.
The 25-year-old was third after a poor pit-stop had delayed him briefly when championship leader Mark Webber was sent spinning off the track by his hot-headed Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel. The collision cost Webber, 33, what looked certain to be a hat-trick after wins in Spain and Monaco and left Vettel, 22, in the gravel and out of contention but delivered a gift-wrapped 43 points to the McLaren men.
It was the 2008 champion Hamilton’s first win of the year, the 12th of his career and his first since last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“I don’t know what happened, but they collided and we got past them,” said Hamilton. “It was a great result for the team and I am happy to dedicate it to my dad for his 50th birthday tomorrow.”
Webber, the drivers’ championship leader, managed to recover and re-join in third place, but the impetuous Vettel’s race was over.Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was visibly upset, “It was very disappointing. I need to talk to both drivers. We did everything right as a team. We saw Lewis and Jenson racing each other and giving each other space. That’s all we ask for.”
German Michael Schumacher came home fourth for Mercedes with his team-mate and compatriot Nico Rosberg fifth.
Published in the Express Tribune, May 31, 2010
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