LEWIS HAMILTON has hailed as “incredibly special” his long-awaited return to the top step of the podium.
Following a long nine months, Hamilton and McLaren yesterday savoured the sweet taste of victory champagne after taking the chequered flag in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
You have to go back to China last October for Hamilton’s last win, following which he became world champion at the next and final race in Brazil.
However, up until now this season Hamilton has far from honoured that title due to a woefully uncompetitive car.
But following a radical revamp, McLaren have finally rediscovered the winning formula, and with number one on his car, the 24-year-old duly delivered at the Hungaroring.
“It’s an incredible feeling to be back here after what feels such a long time away, and after such a struggle for me and my team,” said Hamilton.
“I’m just so proud of the guys, especially when I go to the factory and see how hard everyone is pushing. Everyone wants to win just as much as I do and they’ve never given up, which is something very rare to see in such a large group of people.
“Although we have caught up quite a bit of late, we didn’t expect to win this weekend. We never felt we had the pace to win.
“But the car felt fantastic and it is incredibly special to not only be back on the podium, but to get a win. It is amazing.
“So I have to say a big thank you to all the guys and all the fans that have always given me support, who never gave up on me, and to all my family.”
Hamilton is now naturally hoping this is the start of a renaissance for the team, even if retaining the championship is out of reach as he trails Jenson Button by 51 points with seven races remaining.
“We need to definitely take as much as we can from this weekend and continue to push,” added Hamilton.
It was the first time this season a KERS-aided car has emerged at the head of affairs, with the device proving beneficial from the start for Hamilton.
With pole-man Fernando Alonso away in his Renault, Hamilton managed to pass the Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber on the run down to turn one, taking second from fourth on the grid.
Although Hamilton ran slightly wide, allowing Webber to slot into second, the Briton regained the place at the start of lap five with a move around the outside.
Hamilton then inherited the lead on lap 13 following Alonso’s first stop, and subsequent drama when he lost his wheel, resulting in a one-race ban which the team have appealed.
From that moment Hamilton was never troubled, going on to claim the 10th win of his 45-race career with McLaren, with Pussycat Doll girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger cheering him home.
Behind him, Kimi Raikkonen offered Ferrari a little light relief from a wretched weekend for the team following team-mate Felipe Massa’s horror smash in qualifying by finishing second.
The Finn avoided punishment from the stewards who looked at his collisions with Hamilton and Vettel, who later retired with a front suspension failure because of the accident, in the opening moments of the first lap.
