[Official] Driver of the race: Hungarian Grand Prix 2014

[IceMan_PJN]

1) Lewis Hamilton - Pit lane to third and threatened to win from starting in the pits. It's hard to climb to the top better than that. Maybe if he started from the parking lot.

2) Fernando Alonso - Besides from the 2014 Ferrari not really belonging on a podium, managing to hang in there on really dated option tires is pretty impressive.

3) Daniel Ricciardo - He won, and outperformed Vettel yet again.

[Beryl]

Alonso by far and away. Alonso was the only driver who lost out during the first safety car to make the podium, and he did it in a Ferrari. Ricciardo and Hamilton both gained massively during the safety cars and the first safety car in particular changed things massively (see Massa vs Bottas).

Let me put it this way, when the second safety car came in, Alonso was only 2 positions (a second or so) ahead of Hamilton. Over the next 50+ laps, Alonso, in his Ferrari, kept the Mercedes of Hamilton behind on a very similar strategy. That's just incredible.

[wnut]

Danni Ricc for winning a lottery and capitalizing on every opportunity presented to him.

Lewis pretty scrappy afternoon that worked out well - lucky!
Seems to have got off very lightly for barging his team mate off the road!

Alonso probably should have got DOTR on skill, just not as lucky as Ricc today.

[Neil22]

Gave it to Daniel, but Lewis, Alonso and Nico didn't disappoint.

[beau1]

Ricciardo. Drove the best race, made barely any mistakes and used the best strategy. Also made the passing moves at the right time.

It is great to see him outclassing Vettel too. I quite like Vettel but Riccardo is such a great character and he's certainly impressed me this year.

[Razzzor]

Gave it to Dani. He got very lucky with the SC and then Verge holding the pack up and wouldn't have won if not for that, but he still had to pull of two great passes at the end and the telling sign was finish 40s ahead of Vettel.

Hamilton was great too, but he did bin at the start and only finished 0.5s ahead of Rosberg who was utterly average, and had some SC's to help him. And he should have easily been able to pass Alonso on softs, but failed to do so. I secretly was hoping Hamilton would win it just for bragging rights of winning from pit lane. Has anyone EVER started from pit lane and won, at least in the last 20/30 years? Doubt it.

Verge decent, Alonso decent. A couple of the passes Alonso made were great.

Rosberg - that was certainly not the drive of a champion, trundling around behind Verge barely able to keep up... Mercedes should have reminded him what he's driving this year.

[Rick]

With 5 to go I think Driver of the Race was up for grabs. I thought Alonso was going to cost Dan even a podium with Rosberg reeling them in. Anyone of the 4 could probably win from that point.

If Hamilton kept Dan out, Alonso would have won. If Hamilton had found a way past Alonso a bit earlier he would have won. Dan was always going to be able to get past Alonso but Hamilton was more difficult.

On that basis I think Ricciardo gets it.

[greenracer]

Hamilton was fortunate for the safety cars as was Dan but Hamilton was helped by the fact that nearly half the field didn't finish that made his passage a whole easier. Dotr DAN for me

[F J Nedos]

Originally Posted by F1Pete

First the first time all season I had to ponder regarding who is DOTR. After witnessing some epic drives and moves, I must say that the edge...although slight....goes to Kimi.

In the event (unlikely or not) of Kimi winning a race this season, I genuinely hope that someone in your family has a defibrillator and knows how to administer it!

I do admire your loyalty.

[GORDON STREETER]

I gave it to Ricciardo over Hammy, I also give Vettel a mention for the luckiest spin and continue for the race !!!!

[wnut]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

a mention for the luckiest spin and continue for the race !!!!

Lewis had one too.


Both skill, pure skill!

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by wnut

Lewis had one too.


Both skill, pure skill!

Yeh right !

[Ryan Smith]

I voted for Daniel Ricciardo. We know that Red Bull and their Renault power unit isn't as strong as the Mercedes but Ricciardo took the fight to both Lewis and Felipe in the closing laps. The way he over-took some of the drivers I thought was really done well, most drivers would have bottled the move on Felipe Massa given he was braking what? A good 10-15 meters after he should have, not locking a wheel, and still managing making the apex. As bias as it is going to sound, I think Ricciardo's pass on Hamilton was going to happen anyway, Hamilton had said over team radio that his tyres were gone, so the move was on the cards. Take nothing away from it though, around the outside of turn 2 onto the marbles isn't an easy move, so well done to him for that. Also for the two drivers not to make contact and giving each other enough room and respect was admirable.

[fomoco]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

Alonso for whipping his dog into 2nd.

[Greem]

Hamilton. Two races in a row he's passed almost the entire field.

Honourable mentions to Ricciardo & Alonso too.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by greenracer

Hamilton was fortunate for the safety cars as was Dan but Hamilton was helped by the fact that nearly half the field didn't finish that made his passage a whole easier. Dotr DAN for me

Only 5 drivers retired and the last to do so was Gutierrez, on lap 32.

[Lancsbreaker]

As for others, difficult to choose - gotta love Dan's puppy-dog enthusiasm and sheer drive - real contrast to Seb yesterday. Fernando nearly pulled it off against he odds - but for Lewis to take a car which he had never driven (put together by heroic team effort!) from the pit lane to 3rd, whilst redefining the laws of physics with his pass on Vergne - something that Rosberg had conspicuously been unable to do - was a drive truly worthy of DOTR.

Minus marks to Rosberg for whingeing "Why won't he let me through?" when he was a second behind.......if you want to pass - get on his gearbox and he'd maybe not fight you - but he sure as heck isn't going to park on the pit straight so you don't have to work too hard. Muppet!

[Bononi]

Ricciardo 100%

[AngusJ]

Anybody but Rosberg, too much whining and sniveling.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by AngusJ

Anybody but Rosberg, too much whining and sniveling.

You missed out the uninspiring driving.

[steve_r]

Spoilt for choice there.

I went for Alonso, because I think he deserve kudos for dragging that uncompetitive car into places it really should not be. Could have easily voted for either of the other podium guys though.

[Born Racer]

In the end, I couldn't hand it to anyone but Alonso. To finish where he did was another relentless performance. I don't think the car is that bad, but he clearly extracted what he could.

[Mekola]

Alonso this time.

[TrapezeArtist]

Only one possibility really: Hamilton.

[Adam43]

Three possibilities really; Ricciardo, Alonso or Hamilton.