LEWIS HAMILTON has been bumped up to second in the Hungarian Grand Prix after Sebastian Vettel was DISQUALIFIED.
The German driver crossed the line in second behind race winner Esteban Ocon.
But four hours after the chequered flag was waved, he was booted out of the race.
Stewards were unable to take the required amount of fuel from Vettel’s car for sampling following the race.
With the ruling, Aston Martin’s second-ever Formula One podium finish vanished.
That saw Hamilton rise from third to second on the podium – and a crucial extra three points in the F1 drivers’ championship.
Carlos Sainz jumped up into third to complete the podium while Max Verstappen moved ninth and Kimi Raikkonen claimed the final point.
Vettel had already been issued a reprimand for failing to remove his rainbow t-shirt ahead of the Hungarian GP.
The Aston Martin driver wore the shirt with the words “same love” across the front having previously worn shoes sporting a rainbow flag in a message against Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law.
SEB’S STRIKE
‘We Race As One’ is a platform launched by Formula One last year that counts diversity, inclusivity and sustainability as its core principles.
Drivers are free to wear apparel with a message that is supportive of the initiative’s principles.
But they were instructed to remove any such t-shirts before the national anthem and wear their race suits in a pre-race note issued by race director Michael Masi.
Vettel failed to remove this t-shirt for the national anthem and claims he forgot to take it off because of the onset of rain.
Vettel spoke to Sky Sports ahead of the verdict and said: “I heard it’s because I left my shirt on for the national anthem.
“I’m happy if they disqualify me. They can do whatever they want to me, I don’t care. I would do it again.”
But his disqualification caps a dramatic day at Hungaroring.
On lap one, Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas caused carnage by crashing into Lando Norris and Sergio Perez out of the race – with Norris sent into Verstappen and damaging the Dutchman’s car.
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A red flag followed before Hamilton restarted from the grid on his own – as the rest of the field changed their tyres.
The reigning champ then fought back in spectacular fashion from last to third – including eventually getting past Fernando Alonso after a brilliant battle with the Spaniard.
But it got even better late on Sunday evening with the additional bonus taking him up to 195 points for the season, now eight clear of Verstappen after 11 races.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
