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Hungarian GP: Daniel Ricciardo surprise fastest in first practice
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
Second practice is live on the BBC Sport website
Hungarian Grand Prix on the BBC
Dates: 28-30 July Venue: Hungaroring
Coverage: Practice on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (online only), and qualifying and race on BBC Radio 5 live. Live text commentary, leaderboard and imagery on BBC Sport website and app.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo sprung a surprise with fastest time in first practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Australian, whose car has a major aerodynamic update, was 0.234 seconds quicker than Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
Title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel were third and sixth, Hamilton 0.7secs quicker than Vettel and 0.372secs behind Ricciardo.
Hamilton, who has won five times in 10 years in Hungary, trails Vettel by one point at the mid-point of the season.
Hamilton was 0.4secs quicker than team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was fifth behind the second Red Bull of Max Verstappen, and 0.6secs off Ricciardo, struggling with his set-up.
He was not the only one to fall prey to the slippery surface at the Hungaroring.
As it stands for the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers so far in 2017...
Both Haas drivers crashed at the fast Turn 11, Romain Grosjean incurring only light damage, but reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi bringing out a red flag when he buried his car in the wall, damaging the left-hand side.
And at the end of the session, Renault's Jolyon Palmer lost control at the exit of the fast uphill kink at Turn Four, bouncing over the kerbs and smashing his front wing to pieces.
Palmer finished the session in an encouraging 10th, just one place and 0.3secs behind team-mate Nico Hulkenberg on a weekend when he is under pressure. Former F1 driver Robert Kubica will test with Renault at this track next week as the team assess whether the Pole is capable of returning to the sport more than six years after a horrific rally crash left him with only partial use of his right arm.
It was not immediately clear whether Palmer had damaged the new floor that was introduced for the first time at the last race and which he was using for the first time. Plus, if he had, whether Renault had sufficient spares to fit a new one.
McLaren lived up to their promise to perform better than usual in Hungary because of the relative unimportance of engine power at the track, with Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne best of the rest in seventh and eighth places.
Swami
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
- 1 hour ago
- From the section Formula 1
Second practice is live on the BBC Sport website
Hungarian Grand Prix on the BBC
Dates: 28-30 July Venue: Hungaroring
Coverage: Practice on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (online only), and qualifying and race on BBC Radio 5 live. Live text commentary, leaderboard and imagery on BBC Sport website and app.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo sprung a surprise with fastest time in first practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Australian, whose car has a major aerodynamic update, was 0.234 seconds quicker than Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
Title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel were third and sixth, Hamilton 0.7secs quicker than Vettel and 0.372secs behind Ricciardo.
Hamilton, who has won five times in 10 years in Hungary, trails Vettel by one point at the mid-point of the season.
Hamilton was 0.4secs quicker than team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was fifth behind the second Red Bull of Max Verstappen, and 0.6secs off Ricciardo, struggling with his set-up.
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He was not the only one to fall prey to the slippery surface at the Hungaroring.
As it stands for the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers so far in 2017...
Both Haas drivers crashed at the fast Turn 11, Romain Grosjean incurring only light damage, but reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi bringing out a red flag when he buried his car in the wall, damaging the left-hand side.
And at the end of the session, Renault's Jolyon Palmer lost control at the exit of the fast uphill kink at Turn Four, bouncing over the kerbs and smashing his front wing to pieces.
Palmer finished the session in an encouraging 10th, just one place and 0.3secs behind team-mate Nico Hulkenberg on a weekend when he is under pressure. Former F1 driver Robert Kubica will test with Renault at this track next week as the team assess whether the Pole is capable of returning to the sport more than six years after a horrific rally crash left him with only partial use of his right arm.
It was not immediately clear whether Palmer had damaged the new floor that was introduced for the first time at the last race and which he was using for the first time. Plus, if he had, whether Renault had sufficient spares to fit a new one.
McLaren lived up to their promise to perform better than usual in Hungary because of the relative unimportance of engine power at the track, with Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne best of the rest in seventh and eighth places.
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Telly Talk Supreme
Hungarian GP: Daniel Ricciardo fastest in improved Red Bull
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
Hungarian Grand Prix on the BBC
Dates: 28-30 July Venue: Hungaroring
Coverage: Practice on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (online only), and qualifying and race on BBC Radio 5 live. Live text commentary, leaderboard and imagery on BBC Sport website and app.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo completed a clean sweep of Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Australian, benefiting from an aerodynamic upgrade, was fastest in both sessions, heading Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel by 0.183 seconds in the second session.
Lewis Hamilton, trailing Vettel by a point at the head of the championship, was struggling for grip on the fastest super-soft tyres and only fifth fastest.
But the Mercedes driver was quickest of all on the soft tyres early the session.
Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas was third fastest overall, 0.2secs off Ricciardo's ultimate pace and 0.1secs ahead of the second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen.
As it stands for the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers so far in 2017...
The second Red Bull driver Max Verstappen trailed Ricciardo by 0.4secs and was sixth.
The session was stopped twice because of accidents involving Sauber's Pascal Wehrlein and Renault's Jolyon Palmer.
Wehrlein suffered a heavy crash at Turn 11 in the Sauber. The German was taken to the medical centre for a routine check and given the all-clear.
Palmer than crashed shortly after the session was re-started, losing the rear on the entry to the final corner and sliding into the barriers.
The Englishman is under pressure for his position. Renault have been considering for some time whether to replace him and on Wednesday the former F1 driver Robert Kubica is testing for them at this track as the team seek to establish whether the Pole can make a comeback to F1 despite only partial movement in his right arm following a rally crash that curtailed his career in 2011.
Swami
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
- 4 minutes ago
- From the section Formula 1
Hungarian Grand Prix on the BBC
Dates: 28-30 July Venue: Hungaroring
Coverage: Practice on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (online only), and qualifying and race on BBC Radio 5 live. Live text commentary, leaderboard and imagery on BBC Sport website and app.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo completed a clean sweep of Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Australian, benefiting from an aerodynamic upgrade, was fastest in both sessions, heading Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel by 0.183 seconds in the second session.
Lewis Hamilton, trailing Vettel by a point at the head of the championship, was struggling for grip on the fastest super-soft tyres and only fifth fastest.
But the Mercedes driver was quickest of all on the soft tyres early the session.
Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas was third fastest overall, 0.2secs off Ricciardo's ultimate pace and 0.1secs ahead of the second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen.
As it stands for the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers so far in 2017...
The second Red Bull driver Max Verstappen trailed Ricciardo by 0.4secs and was sixth.
The session was stopped twice because of accidents involving Sauber's Pascal Wehrlein and Renault's Jolyon Palmer.
Wehrlein suffered a heavy crash at Turn 11 in the Sauber. The German was taken to the medical centre for a routine check and given the all-clear.
Palmer than crashed shortly after the session was re-started, losing the rear on the entry to the final corner and sliding into the barriers.
The Englishman is under pressure for his position. Renault have been considering for some time whether to replace him and on Wednesday the former F1 driver Robert Kubica is testing for them at this track as the team seek to establish whether the Pole can make a comeback to F1 despite only partial movement in his right arm following a rally crash that curtailed his career in 2011.
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Telly Talk Supreme
Paul di Resta to replace unwell Felipe Massa in Hungary
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
The Hungarian Grand Prix is live on radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website
Felipe Massa has been forced to withdraw from the Hungarian Grand Prix because of illness and will be replaced by Scot Paul di Resta.
The Brazilian was passed fit to take part in final practice despite going to hospital after feeling dizzy and unwell in Friday's second practice session.
He was released from hospital and spent the night at his hotel, but suffered more problems in final practice.
Di Resta, 31, has not driven the 2017 car and not raced in F1 since 2013.
Patriotic Palmer on his dad-inspired helmet
A statement from Williams said: "The team supports Felipe's decision and the team will work with him to ensure he makes a full recovery, with a view to a return to the race track for the Belgian Grand Prix."
The team did not give any further details on Massa's illness.
In final practice, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was comfortably fastest as Mercedes driver and title rival Lewis Hamilton struggled.
Vettel was 0.475 seconds quicker than team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and 0.897secs clear of the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, with Hamilton down in fourth.
Hamilton has won in Hungary five times in 10 years but the car lacked balance and grip on Friday and the drivers appeared to be struggling with the same problems on Saturday.
Hamilton was locking wheels and running wide and his fastest lap was a massive 1.417 seconds slower than Vettel, who leads the Briton by one point.
The margin from Vettel back to Bottas of nearly a second is a lifetime in F1 and augurs badly for Mercedes' hopes this weekend.
Di Resta has not raced in F1 since losing his Force India drive in 2013 - the cars have changed substantially since then
And as so often when Mercedes struggle in this way, Bottas was making better of it than Hamilton - just as he did in Russia and Monaco earlier this season.
All are low-grip tracks with slow corners. Hamilton tends to overcommit the front end, causing problems with the tyres, while Bottas drives within the limit of grip.
In fact, the race appears to be falling into Ferrari's lap, after Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull, which was fastest in both sessions on Friday, stopped out on track early on with an engine hydraulics system failure.
Ricciardo ended up eighth quickest, his team-mate Max Verstappen who was not on his pace on Friday fourth and 1.177secs off Vettel's pace.
McLaren are showing encouraging form - Stoffel Vandoorne was an excellent sixth and Fernando Alonso ninth.
On this track that exposes their Honda engine's lack of power less than many others, they appear to be competing for the honour of best of the rest outside the top three with Renault, for whom Nico Hulkenberg was seventh fastest. Hulkenberg has been hit with a five-place grid penalty for an unauthorised gearbox change.
The German's team-mate Jolyon Palmer, who had a torrid day on Friday crashing twice, was 10th, less than 0.3secs behind.
Swami
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
- 2 hours ago
- From the section Formula 1
- 12
The Hungarian Grand Prix is live on radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website
Felipe Massa has been forced to withdraw from the Hungarian Grand Prix because of illness and will be replaced by Scot Paul di Resta.
The Brazilian was passed fit to take part in final practice despite going to hospital after feeling dizzy and unwell in Friday's second practice session.
He was released from hospital and spent the night at his hotel, but suffered more problems in final practice.
Di Resta, 31, has not driven the 2017 car and not raced in F1 since 2013.
Patriotic Palmer on his dad-inspired helmet
A statement from Williams said: "The team supports Felipe's decision and the team will work with him to ensure he makes a full recovery, with a view to a return to the race track for the Belgian Grand Prix."
The team did not give any further details on Massa's illness.
In final practice, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was comfortably fastest as Mercedes driver and title rival Lewis Hamilton struggled.
Vettel was 0.475 seconds quicker than team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and 0.897secs clear of the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, with Hamilton down in fourth.
Hamilton has won in Hungary five times in 10 years but the car lacked balance and grip on Friday and the drivers appeared to be struggling with the same problems on Saturday.
Hamilton was locking wheels and running wide and his fastest lap was a massive 1.417 seconds slower than Vettel, who leads the Briton by one point.
The margin from Vettel back to Bottas of nearly a second is a lifetime in F1 and augurs badly for Mercedes' hopes this weekend.
Di Resta has not raced in F1 since losing his Force India drive in 2013 - the cars have changed substantially since then
And as so often when Mercedes struggle in this way, Bottas was making better of it than Hamilton - just as he did in Russia and Monaco earlier this season.
All are low-grip tracks with slow corners. Hamilton tends to overcommit the front end, causing problems with the tyres, while Bottas drives within the limit of grip.
In fact, the race appears to be falling into Ferrari's lap, after Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull, which was fastest in both sessions on Friday, stopped out on track early on with an engine hydraulics system failure.
Ricciardo ended up eighth quickest, his team-mate Max Verstappen who was not on his pace on Friday fourth and 1.177secs off Vettel's pace.
McLaren are showing encouraging form - Stoffel Vandoorne was an excellent sixth and Fernando Alonso ninth.
On this track that exposes their Honda engine's lack of power less than many others, they appear to be competing for the honour of best of the rest outside the top three with Renault, for whom Nico Hulkenberg was seventh fastest. Hulkenberg has been hit with a five-place grid penalty for an unauthorised gearbox change.
The German's team-mate Jolyon Palmer, who had a torrid day on Friday crashing twice, was 10th, less than 0.3secs behind.
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Telly Talk Supreme
Lewis Hamilton only fourth as Sebastian Vettel takes pole in Hungary
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix heading a Ferrari one-two as title rival Lewis Hamilton struggled in fourth.
Hamilton, who trails Vettel by one point in the world championship, complained consistently of tyre problems in his Mercedes and had a messy session.
Vettel was 0.254 seconds quicker than the fastest Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen second.
Scot Paul di Resta qualified an excellent 19th after being drafted in as a least-minute stand-in for Williams' Felipe Massa.
Di Resta jumped into a F1 car for the first time in three years
Why have Mercedes fallen back?
Mercedes have been struggling for pace all weekend and were a second or so off the Ferraris in final practice.
Without his problems, Hamilton may have had the pace to be on the front row, but suspicion is that the long-wheelbase Mercedes is simply not as well suited to the tight and twisty Hungaroring as other, faster tracks.
Mercedes made progress in qualifying, and Hamilton actually set the fastest time in the second part, albeit doing two runs rather than only one like Ferrari.
Hamilton had complained of a tyre vibration on his first run in second qualifying and the same happened on both his runs in the top 10 shoot-out.
Hamilton ran wide at the fast, blind, uphill Turn Four on his first run and aborted it, leaving him just one lap to try to beat Vettel's scintillating initial time of one minute 16.276.
Hamilton again complained of tyre vibrations when he went out for his final run but was only 0.1secs down after the first two sectors, only to lose another 0.3secs in the final sector.
Patriotic Palmer on his dad-inspired helmet
What they said
Bottas said: "They have been quick all weekend and we knew it should be close and they would be tough to beat. They got everything right today and we still have work to do on circuits like this.
"This weekend we can see we are not performing as we would like."
Vettel, who saw his lead cut by 19 points by Hamilton after he finished seventh following a late puncture in the last race at Silverstone, said: "The last race wasn't great for us, but it doesn't matter now.
"I am really happy with where we are as a team. It is great to get the result on Saturday but the main task comes tomorrow."
Swami
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
- 10 minutes ago
- From the section Formula 1
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix heading a Ferrari one-two as title rival Lewis Hamilton struggled in fourth.
Hamilton, who trails Vettel by one point in the world championship, complained consistently of tyre problems in his Mercedes and had a messy session.
Vettel was 0.254 seconds quicker than the fastest Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen second.
Scot Paul di Resta qualified an excellent 19th after being drafted in as a least-minute stand-in for Williams' Felipe Massa.
Di Resta jumped into a F1 car for the first time in three years
Why have Mercedes fallen back?
Mercedes have been struggling for pace all weekend and were a second or so off the Ferraris in final practice.
Without his problems, Hamilton may have had the pace to be on the front row, but suspicion is that the long-wheelbase Mercedes is simply not as well suited to the tight and twisty Hungaroring as other, faster tracks.
Mercedes made progress in qualifying, and Hamilton actually set the fastest time in the second part, albeit doing two runs rather than only one like Ferrari.
Hamilton had complained of a tyre vibration on his first run in second qualifying and the same happened on both his runs in the top 10 shoot-out.
Hamilton ran wide at the fast, blind, uphill Turn Four on his first run and aborted it, leaving him just one lap to try to beat Vettel's scintillating initial time of one minute 16.276.
Hamilton again complained of tyre vibrations when he went out for his final run but was only 0.1secs down after the first two sectors, only to lose another 0.3secs in the final sector.
Patriotic Palmer on his dad-inspired helmet
What they said
Bottas said: "They have been quick all weekend and we knew it should be close and they would be tough to beat. They got everything right today and we still have work to do on circuits like this.
"This weekend we can see we are not performing as we would like."
Vettel, who saw his lead cut by 19 points by Hamilton after he finished seventh following a late puncture in the last race at Silverstone, said: "The last race wasn't great for us, but it doesn't matter now.
"I am really happy with where we are as a team. It is great to get the result on Saturday but the main task comes tomorrow."
Swami
Swami
Telly Talk Supreme
Lewis Hamilton gives up third in Hungary as Sebastian Vettel wins
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
Sebastian Vettel hung on to win a tense Hungarian Grand Prix despite problems with his Ferrari and a valiant attack by title rival Lewis Hamilton.
In a nail-biting finish, Vettel had his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen behind complaining that he could go faster but being used by the team as a buffer against Hamilton.
The Mercedes driver closed in but was unable to overcome the problems created by losing grip in the wake of another car.
And he let team-mate Valtteri Bottas past into third place, honouring a promise he made earlier in the race when the Finn moved aside to let Hamilton attack the Ferraris.
Vettel's victory with Hamilton in fourth extended his championship lead to 14 points as Formula 1 heads into its four-week summer break.
Vettel celebrates, while Fernando Alonso (right) is already on the beach
Honourable Hamilton keeps his promise
Hamilton's challenge for victory was unexpected after a weekend in which he and his Mercedes team had struggled for pace compared to Ferrari.
Vettel and Raikkonen dominated the first half of the race, in which it was already clear that the German was managing some form of handling problem and that the Finn was being asked to hold station behind.
The switch to harder tyres at the pit stops changed the complexion of the race and gave Mercedes the pace to challenge.
Hamilton had suffered with radio problems in the first part of the race, unable to consistently hear his team.
A man of his word: Despite sacrificing crucial points in the title race, Hamilton let his team-mate past him after he promised to do it during the race
It righted itself after the pit stops as Hamilton was closing on Valtteri Bottas as the Finn was doing the same to the Ferraris.
Hamilton asked to be allowed past his team-mate to attack the Ferraris, saying: "OK, man. I've got a lot of pace. You've got to let me use it. And this radio rubbish sucks."
Hamilton pledged that he would allow Bottas back past him if he could not overtake a Ferrari.
Bottas complied and Hamilton set about the Ferraris, but although he closed on Raikkonen he was unable to pass, his car's aerodynamics too badly affected by the wake of the Ferrari on this tight and twisty track for him to get on to Raikkonen's tail.
Raikkonen complained that he was "uncomfortable" with the situation but he played his role perfectly, with Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne watching from the pits.
It affirmed Raikkonen's position as a team player and will only make it more likely that he will be retained for next year as long as Vettel also stays.
Handbags at Red Bull
Verstappen will have some explaining to do after the race following the first-lap incident in which he took out team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
The Australian had passed Verstappen on the outside on the run to Turn Two, after the Dutchman was forced wide by Bottas on the exit of Turn One.
But although Ricciardo was clearly ahead, Verstappen left his braking too late on the inside, and slid into his team-mate, smashing his radiator. Ricciardo spun into retirement on fluids from his own car at Turn Three, bringing out the safety car.
Ricciardo said: "It's frustrating. It's not even an overtaking move. It's an emotional response - sees me pass him, wants to make it back and messed it up.
Ricciardo accused Verstappen of not being able to accept he had been overtaken by his team-mate
"I don't really know… in that moment I expect (the team) to say sorry and they will speak to Max and that's what they said. I don't know.
"Look, the way Max handles it, more than the way I handle it, will dictate how it goes in the future. For sure I can go and call him names but if he acts like the age he is, or if he acts like a man and admits the mistake."
Verstappen's move earned him a 10-second penalty, served at his pit stop, which made it more difficult for him to challenge the Mercedes at the end.
Patriotic Palmer on his dad-inspired helmet
What they said
Vettel: "I am over the moon. It was a really difficult race. I had my hands full from three to four laps after the safety car, the steering started to go sideways and it started to get worse. It wasn't easy but it didn't do a favour to Kimi who could obviously go faster.
"You go down the straight and it's not straight. In right-handers it was OK, but in left-handers you had to go further than your head is telling you you should.
"I tried to hang in there as much as possible. The race felt very long."
On extending his championship lead, Vettel said: "I don't mind. It's OK. Could be worse."
Bottas said: "For sure in the end I was getting little bit worried because I was losing ground with all the backmarkers. So really thanks to Lewis for keeping his word."
Driver of the day
Raikkonen was clearly the faster Ferrari driver on this day, but Vettel deserves credit for managing his race well in difficult circumstances
An honourable mention, too, to Fernando Alonso, for his battling sixth place, forced to overtake Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz on track after being passed off the line, by far McLaren's best result of the season. He celebrated by posing on an image of his famous 'deckchair' moment from Brazil a couple of years ago that was painted on the pit lane.
What's next?
The teams are forced to take two weeks off work during the four-week break. The next race, the Belgian Grand Prix, should be very much a Mercedes track, and a chance for Hamilton to close up again on Vettel in the championship.
Swami
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring
- 1 hour ago
- From the section Formula 1
- 129
Sebastian Vettel hung on to win a tense Hungarian Grand Prix despite problems with his Ferrari and a valiant attack by title rival Lewis Hamilton.
In a nail-biting finish, Vettel had his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen behind complaining that he could go faster but being used by the team as a buffer against Hamilton.
The Mercedes driver closed in but was unable to overcome the problems created by losing grip in the wake of another car.
And he let team-mate Valtteri Bottas past into third place, honouring a promise he made earlier in the race when the Finn moved aside to let Hamilton attack the Ferraris.
Vettel's victory with Hamilton in fourth extended his championship lead to 14 points as Formula 1 heads into its four-week summer break.
Vettel celebrates, while Fernando Alonso (right) is already on the beach
Honourable Hamilton keeps his promise
Hamilton's challenge for victory was unexpected after a weekend in which he and his Mercedes team had struggled for pace compared to Ferrari.
Vettel and Raikkonen dominated the first half of the race, in which it was already clear that the German was managing some form of handling problem and that the Finn was being asked to hold station behind.
- Listen again: You're putting me under pressure for no reason - Raikkonen
- Listen again: 'This radio stuff sucks!' - Hamilton
The switch to harder tyres at the pit stops changed the complexion of the race and gave Mercedes the pace to challenge.
Hamilton had suffered with radio problems in the first part of the race, unable to consistently hear his team.
A man of his word: Despite sacrificing crucial points in the title race, Hamilton let his team-mate past him after he promised to do it during the race
It righted itself after the pit stops as Hamilton was closing on Valtteri Bottas as the Finn was doing the same to the Ferraris.
Hamilton asked to be allowed past his team-mate to attack the Ferraris, saying: "OK, man. I've got a lot of pace. You've got to let me use it. And this radio rubbish sucks."
Hamilton pledged that he would allow Bottas back past him if he could not overtake a Ferrari.
Bottas complied and Hamilton set about the Ferraris, but although he closed on Raikkonen he was unable to pass, his car's aerodynamics too badly affected by the wake of the Ferrari on this tight and twisty track for him to get on to Raikkonen's tail.
Raikkonen complained that he was "uncomfortable" with the situation but he played his role perfectly, with Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne watching from the pits.
It affirmed Raikkonen's position as a team player and will only make it more likely that he will be retained for next year as long as Vettel also stays.
Handbags at Red Bull
Verstappen will have some explaining to do after the race following the first-lap incident in which he took out team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
The Australian had passed Verstappen on the outside on the run to Turn Two, after the Dutchman was forced wide by Bottas on the exit of Turn One.
But although Ricciardo was clearly ahead, Verstappen left his braking too late on the inside, and slid into his team-mate, smashing his radiator. Ricciardo spun into retirement on fluids from his own car at Turn Three, bringing out the safety car.
Ricciardo said: "It's frustrating. It's not even an overtaking move. It's an emotional response - sees me pass him, wants to make it back and messed it up.
Ricciardo accused Verstappen of not being able to accept he had been overtaken by his team-mate
"I don't really know… in that moment I expect (the team) to say sorry and they will speak to Max and that's what they said. I don't know.
"Look, the way Max handles it, more than the way I handle it, will dictate how it goes in the future. For sure I can go and call him names but if he acts like the age he is, or if he acts like a man and admits the mistake."
Verstappen's move earned him a 10-second penalty, served at his pit stop, which made it more difficult for him to challenge the Mercedes at the end.
Patriotic Palmer on his dad-inspired helmet
What they said
Vettel: "I am over the moon. It was a really difficult race. I had my hands full from three to four laps after the safety car, the steering started to go sideways and it started to get worse. It wasn't easy but it didn't do a favour to Kimi who could obviously go faster.
"You go down the straight and it's not straight. In right-handers it was OK, but in left-handers you had to go further than your head is telling you you should.
"I tried to hang in there as much as possible. The race felt very long."
On extending his championship lead, Vettel said: "I don't mind. It's OK. Could be worse."
Bottas said: "For sure in the end I was getting little bit worried because I was losing ground with all the backmarkers. So really thanks to Lewis for keeping his word."
Driver of the day
Raikkonen was clearly the faster Ferrari driver on this day, but Vettel deserves credit for managing his race well in difficult circumstances
An honourable mention, too, to Fernando Alonso, for his battling sixth place, forced to overtake Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz on track after being passed off the line, by far McLaren's best result of the season. He celebrated by posing on an image of his famous 'deckchair' moment from Brazil a couple of years ago that was painted on the pit lane.
What's next?
The teams are forced to take two weeks off work during the four-week break. The next race, the Belgian Grand Prix, should be very much a Mercedes track, and a chance for Hamilton to close up again on Vettel in the championship.
Swami