Jenson Wins His First Grand Prix

Well for over 100 races now (113 to be exact), we have been anticipating the day that Jenson Button would win his first grand prix. Right through his career with Williams, then BAR and now Honda all the UK have labelled Jenson as the new Nigel Mansell or Damon Hill, but race after race something would go wrong with reliability issues of just a lack of pace would put Jensen on the podium at best but not on first place. But on a rainy day in Hungary in August 2006 his fortunes would change. Who would have guessed that after a 10-place penalty for changing an engine he would start from 14th place on the grid to storming win?

It was a historic race all round with Alonso suffering a 2 second penalty for each of the first 2 rounds on qualifying to put him 15th on the grid, after he waved his fists at another test driver on the Friday free practice. Then Michael Schumacher on the very next day overtook Alonso with red flags flying and he also received a 2 second per qualifying session penalty so he finished up 11th on the grid. Villeneuve had pulled out of the race complaining of headaches from a shunt the week before, so in comes the first Polish driver ever, BMW’s test driver Kubica and delivers a 9th grid slot, quite amazing. We now had one new driver and 3 top placed drivers in the second half of the grid, the stage was set for at least an interesting Sunday’s race, as Raikkonen took pole.

These pre-race events had already set the heart rate of the GP race fan soaring, but what we did not expect was for the racing to be just if not more compelling. This was the first ever GP race in Hungary with rain and it created much indecision at the beginning of the race, no-one really knew what tyres to use, it was slippery even catching De La Rosa out on the warm up lap, with a spin.

The race then started and from the first corner there was wheel-to-wheel action resulting in one of the best Grand Prixs ever in recent years. Michael Shcumacher had to suffer the embarrassment of Alonso lapping him, only to come back to 3rd before a driver error took him off. Alonso suffered a broken drive shaft after a pit stop that took him out of the race whilst winning. Raikkonen misjudged a back marker and was catapulted over the back markers car to another retirement. Whilst all the events were unfolding Jenson got faster and faster, not reacting to tyre changes too early until they were certain they were going to work, choosing to stay out on intermediates until it was right for slicks. As he crossed the fishing line over 30 seconds ahead of De La Rosa it was a moment to cherish for the British motor racing fan, not only had he done it, but done it such difficult circumstances and style. What was interesting that directly after the race, not all the interviews were shown on TV as grown men were crying with emotion in the Honda pit lane, so much work and effort had gone into this historic win. It was on day where no one including Jenson himself thought it would be coming; in contrast to the races where they thought they had a chance only to put in a poor performance. Long may it continue!

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