Hamilton returns to form,top of podium

Australian Mark Webber finished third for Red Bull to go second in the championship,18.5 points behind Britain’s Jenson Button with seven races remaining. Brawn GP’s Button had a frustrating afternoon in the Hungarian heat,struggling to get performance out of the car’s tyres,and finished seventh after starting eighth.

His unhappiness was only relieved by the retirement of Vettel,his previous closest rival,and seeing the top two places filled by drivers whose title dreams had long disappeared.

Hamilton’s victory,11.5 seconds ahead of 2007 champion Raikkonen,was the 24-year-old’s first since China last October,and 10th of his career. It was his Mercedes-powered team’s first podium finish of the year.

“Great job guys,” said Hamilton after he took the chequered flag. “This car is so nice to drive. Fantastic. You guys have worked so hard and I’m so glad we could do it.”

In a footnote for statisticians,it was also the first success for a car equipped with the new KERS energy recovery system.

“It’s an incredible feeling to be back here after what seems like such a long time away,” said Hamilton. “We’ve caught up quite a bit but we never really thought we had the pace to win. To get a win,it’s amazing”.

Germany’s Nico Rosberg was fourth for Williams ahead of McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen,last year’s surprise winner in Budapest,and Toyota’s Timo Glock. Italian Jarno Trulli took the final point for Toyota.

Renault suspended from next race

Renault’s double world champion Fernando Alonso had started on pole position but lasted only 17 laps before retiring after earlier having to limp back to the pits on three wheels. Renault were suspended from the next race in Valencia after the incident. Race stewards ruled that Renault had released Alonso from a pit stop knowing that the wheel was not properly secured and then failing to tell the driver.

This was a week after Henry Surtees,son of Ferrari’s 1964 world champion John,died in a Formula two race after being struck by a loose wheel bouncing across the track.

Adrian Sutil’s race lasted just one lap before the German headed for the pit while his Force India team mate Giancarlo Fisichella did slightly better to finish 14th. Sutil’s VJM02’s water temperature had rocketed on the formation lap,causing the engine to run very hot.