Honda Racing Formula 1 Team's 1st Victory

Jenson Button has won the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, taking both his and the Honda Racing F1 Team’s first Formula One victory. In changing track conditions, the 26-year-old Englishman drove a stunning race, charging through the field from 14th place on the grid.

Capping a fabulous race for the team – which was seen by the CEO and President of the Honda Motor Company, Takeo Fukui – Rubens Barrichello came home in a fighting fourth place.

The 70-lap race got under way in wet conditions, with Rubens making a great start to be second into Turn 1. Jenson, meanwhile, jumped from 14th to 11th on the opening lap and went on to overtake one car per lap for the next six laps to be fourth by lap eight.

Rubens’ strategy was compromised on lap five when he pitted for full wet tyres, having started the race on intermediates. He rejoined the race in 10th position.

Jenson was up to third position by the time of his first pitstop on lap 17, from which he rejoined in fourth place behind Pedro de la Rosa. Behind him, Rubens was charging through the field and by the time the Safety Car came out on lap 26, following an accident involving Kimi Raikkonen, he was in fifth place.

Rubens made his second pitstop during this Safety Car period, but Jenson stayed out, which left him in second place on the road. The race then re-started on lap 31 and Jenson set a string of fastest laps to close onto the tail of race leader Fernando Alonso.

Jenson pitted on lap 46 and emerged in second place. When Alonso crashed at Turn 2 on lap 51, Jenson was handed a convincing lead over second placed Pedro de la Rosa, which he was never to lose, even when he made his final pitstop on lap 54 for dry tyres.

In the closing stages, Rubens closed onto the gearbox of third-placed Nick Heidfeld, but he was unable to find a way passed.

The Honda Racing F1 Team now has a three-week break prior to the next round of the World Championship in Turkey, on August 27th.

JENSON BUTTON
“Wow! What a day! This is such an amazing moment for me and one that I have worked my whole motor racing career for. I always had faith that we would achieve our objective together and this victory is testimony to that belief. There are so many people to thank right now - everybody in the team, Honda Motor Company, our partners and, of course, all the fans. I would also like to pay a very special tribute to my family who helped me start out on the path to victory. To win such a tough and challenging race from 14th place on the grid is incredible for me and all the more important because I know I won on merit today. No one can dispute that today the Honda Racing F1 Team got everything right.”