Vettel dedicates Hungary grand prix win to Bianchi

Memories of Jules Bianchi hovered over the Hungarian grand prix. The race took place five days after the Frenchman's funeral service in Nice. The 25-year-old had been tipped for a bright future in Formula One.

Jules Bianchi's image and memory shrouded the Hungarian grand prix. Reuters/Yuya Shino

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel dedicated his triumph at the grand prix on Sunday to Bianchi whose death was announced on 17 July. He never regained consciousness after a collision with a recovery vehicle during a race at Suzuka last October.

The budding star of the circuit was laid to rest in his home city of Nice on Tuesday during a service attended by several Formula One drivers including Vettel and the reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Shortly before the Hungarian grand prix, Bianchi’s parents, Philippe and Christine as well as his brother, Tom, went to the paddock to take part in a minute’s silence with all the drivers involved in the race.

"We all did the race for him, trying to race our hearts out from beginning to end," Vettel said after his victory. "If you recap the week we have gone through it is hard to find the right words.

"So it is the least we can do... dedicate this weekend and race to Jules and his family.

"For all of us who were on the grid in Suzuka last year and are on the grid this year, Jules will always remain a part of us when we jump in the car when we race."

On a personal level, the win at the grand prix was Vettel’s 41st and he now stands level with the Brazilian Ayrton Senna in third place on the all-time winners list. Only the Frenchman Alain Prost with 51 and the Germlan Michael Schumacher on 91 are in front.

Vettel’s Ferrari came in ahead of the Red Bulls of Daniil Kyvat and Daniel Ricciardo.

Hamilton, who started in pole position, had to settle for sixth place. Mercedes stable mate Nico Rosberg was eighth. It was the first time since the Brazilian grand prix in 2013 that neither Mercedes driver finished in the top three, a run of 28 races.

Despite the hiccup, Hamilton leads the drivers’ championship on 202 points after 10 of the season’s 19 races. Rosberg is second on 181 points and Vettel is third with 160 points.