10-4 in Hungary
Tenth on the grid to fourth at the flag, on a track where it’s notoriously difficult to overtake. That sentence sums up Mark’s Hungarian Grand Prix because after a troubled qualifying session, in which he was slowed by gearbox and KERS issues, he drove a brilliant race in brutally hot conditions to finish 5.5s behind third-placed Sebastian Vettel.
“I was starting out of position and you don’t want to be in the middle of the pack on a track like this because it’s very difficult to get yourself back in the fight,” he says. “Given all that, to take fourth place was a good effort by everyone. The guys in the garage worked very hard to turn things around after qualifying and they gave me a very good race car.”
Despite starting on the dirty side of the grid, in 10th, Mark made a good getaway when the five red lights when out. He was up to seventh by the end of the opening lap, making him the lead car on the prime tyre and when the cars on options ahead of him pitted, he ended up leading the race.
“I enjoyed myself out there,” he says, ”and one of the reasons for that was because we could push the tyres throughout the race. These Pirellis have knocked people like Lewis [Hamilton] and myself around a lot, ever since they arrived in the sport, and today we were able to push them hard. That’s what made it enjoyable.”
In the end, the top three cars had too much of an advantage and Mark had to settle for fourth. After his final pitstop he was 13s behind Vettel with 10 laps to go, but he cut that deficit by more than half by the chequered flag.
“Our strategy was good and we got some clear air for most of the race,” says Mark. “That’s what we needed to make our three-stop strategy work, and that’s what we got. I was able to drive the car at its potential for most of the race – which was pretty seamless. The only thing we might have done better is to have passed Fernando before he stopped, but that was it.
“I made three pitstops, like most people in the top 10. It’s very hard to two-stop when you’re using the option tyre in the back part of the race. You’re not going to get the car home if you put the option rubber on with 20 laps to go; that’s why I put on primes for my second stop, just to make sure the option tyre could get there.”
He used the soft rubber to good effect in the closing laps and even set the fastest lap of the race on lap 61 of 70. But he ran out of time to set about a challenge for the final podium position.
It’s now time for the two-week August shutdown, before the F1 season resumes on August 25 at one of Mark’s favourite circuits, Spa-Francorchamps. It can’t come soon enough!
Ends
31 Comments
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Roberta
on July 29, 2013Well done Mark, very good drive!! 🙂 🙂
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Robyn McGowan
on July 29, 2013Well done Mark.
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Paul Brown
on July 29, 2013Well done Mark, it must be hard to be positive all the time when things seemed stacked against you in the team. I hope the rest of the year goes better for you and look forward to seeing you take on a new challenge next year.
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Dan
on July 29, 2013mark you are a great driver. Today, you did great. If you continue driving in that way, I think you could win the championship this year. Bestr regards from Ecuador.
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SMALL HELMUT:)
on July 29, 2013any chance MW might change his mind and return to F1 in 2014 with a different team??
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jay
on July 29, 2013I didn’t get to see the Qualifying, by the sounds of it I just would have been annoyed watching Mark get knobbled yet again…
Terrific job done Mark, considering you are the only driver on track who has to overcome not just competition from other drivers in the race, but opposition within your own team! Better luck for Spa. -
Warwick Lindsay
on July 29, 2013Good effort Mark! If only you could have reversed the tables with Vettel!!You will be missed next year11
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Ryan
on July 29, 2013I was very impressed with Mark, he was awesome and a real star of the race. Enjoy the break, Mark; you’ve definitely earned it!
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Susan fm Oz
on July 29, 2013Congrats Mark. Enjoyed watching you coming through the pack to get 4th. Unfortunately, you actually could’ve won – as in many other drives this year the RBR team comprised you. I admire your determination and true sportsmanship. RBR should be investigated but won’t be. Enjoy the break and let’s hope you come back and WIN irrespective of what RBR pull out of their hat of tricks! Karma absolutely will come back to bite them one day – sadly you may have left the sport by then. I hope D Ricciardo doesn’t go to Red Bull – for his own sake down the track. Have a good 3 weeks off. Cheers:)
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Henrik
on July 29, 2013Webber what a great performance, that was I win in my eyes from 10th position. Normally a boring race to watch with limited over takings but you kept the excitement alive! Mate you will be missed next year…..
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Alan Cutts
on July 29, 2013Great Drive Mark your no one fan in Noosa
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clinton
on July 29, 2013top form mark… a great display of driving throughout the race… you seem to be flying on the new tyre construction… next few races, with no shitty flaws in the car, you’ll be fighting for wins again…. cant wait, lets finish this f1 career strongly mark… (please redbull, 9 races to go, no more rubbish)
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Jill and Brian
on July 29, 2013Well done Mark what a fantastic drive after the ‘Ant Hill Mob’ tried to nobble you yet again. Hang in there mate your a million times better than that lot. Enjoy your Summer break and come back refreshed for Spa. We will be there cheering you on, although it will be a sad occasion because it will be our last time to see you race ‘live’ in an F1 car, but we’ll be with you in WEC. All the best Mark.
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Auzziegritfan
on July 29, 2013Brilliance shines. From 10 to 4 at Hungary awesome. I am so hopeful you will change your mind and stay. You deserve a world championship. Keep going Mark! Deep deep down is leaving the right thing for MW If yes then go with blessings if no then stay and kick arse!!
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Patty
on July 30, 2013Very proud of you Mark. You did a great job to comeback and finish 4th. You could have won if your team gave you a better car for qualifying. Glad you finally spoke up & let them know that they need to do a better job with your car. Did you switch cars with Vettel for the race lol? You sure drove with passion and determination in the race. One of your best drives. Good luck at your next race.
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George
on July 30, 2013I have already told you in the pit walk: thank you for the wonderful years! great race in hungary. congrats. And as always a racer!
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stuart hearn
on July 30, 2013will be impressed
How childish SV” he did not give me room” re KR and the attempted pass, -
adam mathis
on July 30, 2013Good on you mark, your friends in Tokyo enjoyed the race, and again you show us its more than just the car that finishes strong, a few more wins and lets see how it all pans out, we wish you the best this year.
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Gsen
on July 30, 2013Mark the only reason I watch F1. Great drive Mark. I would love to see you beat SV this season.
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Deborah Bolognesi
on July 31, 2013What a great drive Mark! Always proud of you. Now enjoy the break, you deserve it! can’t wait for Spa… hoping for better luck and especially for better support from the team… Keep fighting, mate!! all the best from Italy 🙂
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psycho budgie
on July 31, 2013Excellent watching you race on Sunday, all the best for the next one mate. 🙂
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Raider4life
on July 31, 2013Nice drive Mark! Will miss you next year but love the sportscars. Buy any chance have you seen the vid on you tube ? Hitler does Dr Helmut Marko. Hope you get a good laugh and enjoy your break .
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Marty Eugarde
on July 31, 2013Hi there Mark.
Great Race.
You once again showed the world you have too much talent to leave F1.
Surely this can’t be your last year. You have unfinished business here. Lets not close the book. The story is not over. It’s time to write a new chapter. -
PeterMAs
on July 31, 2013Greta drive against teh Red Bull odds. We will miss you and your Aussie grit. It is a pity sports car racing is not televised much here at home. Good luck at Spa, looking forward to another classic pass at Eau Rouge perhaps on Vettel this time. No holdoing back or obeying team orders.
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John
on July 31, 2013One word:
Sabotaged
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Wendy
on August 1, 2013Hi Mark Just back from Budapest. What a great city but incredibly hot. Really enjoyed the race and thanks for the impromptu autograph session in the pits on Thursday. Thought at one point you’d make the podium on Sunday but great drive from 10th to 4th. Really going to miss you in F1. Does anyone televise Porsche racing?
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wassa
on August 1, 2013I wish you’d stay in F1 mark with a team that would give you a chance at the title. Given your respect / loyalty for Red Bull / Christian Horner its a shame that he is so obvious in his preferences for Seb. I’ll miss watching you race. cheers
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Beáta
on August 2, 2013Hi Mark,
You have done your best under the given circumstances, again. Well done and respect! I was cheering for you at turn 6 and 7 at Hungaroring. :-)Have a very nice holiday break! Greetings from Budapest!
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adrian waerea
on August 3, 2013Hey mark, my opinion is go to ferrari f1 for 2014 alongside your good friend fernando…why not!
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john
on August 3, 2013hi Mark,
Sorry you are not continuing in F1.
Completely understand your not wanting to be with Red Bull….their behaviour and support for you is beyond contempt.Horners public comment re your being too old or passed it or whatever it was can’t recall exactly, but his words were shameful he does not deserve his position after this.
It is all about MONEY…Red Bull is German owned so reasonably they are going to put 100% behind the German driver childish little **** that he is.You are a great driver who comes from the rear of the grid to the podium at times who is called in to pit when you shouldn’t e.g. if Kimi coild fifnish Hungary on 2 stiops then you had little to lose having same strategy…in fact times showed you likely would’ve won this race.never give up
John -
Olga
on August 7, 2013Марк ,с тобой я узнала формулу 1.Я вседа была рядом и поддерживала тебя ,где бы ты не был и какие испытания не посылала тебе жизнь. Любое решение принятое тобой -правильное. Я горжусь тобой ,иду за тобой и рядом дальше, и очень сильно люблю тебя.Береги себя.Главное здоровье!!!
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