Live - Hungarian Grand Prix

Hungaroring 3-5 August, 2007
Positions for 1300 start of 70-lap race:

1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)

2 Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)

3 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

4 Nico Rosberg (Williams)

5 Ralf Schumacher (Toyota)

6 Fernando Alonso (McLaren)

7 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)

LATEST ACTION AS IT HAPPENS (ALL TIMES BST)

By Sam Lyon

Send us your views, comment and opinions on the Hungarian Grand Prix - text us on 81111 or use 606

1258: We're just seconds away now, so if you haven't already stocked up on tea, biscuits and a caramel slice, now's the time to do so people...

"Hamilton has started a civil war into Mc Laren this precedent will not be forgotten. Fernando Alonso from now on will feel free to not obey team orders and to block Lewis Hamilton if required."
sensationaljohn on 606

1251: Lewis's father Anthony Hamilton, meanwhile, insists the British youngster is in fine fettle ahead of the race, totally focused and ready to go out and win. We shall see...

1250: McLaren team boss Ron Dennis gives his greatest indication yet that it was driver error, not the team's, that led to the Hamilton-Alonso mix-up in qualifying and subsequent demotion for the Spaniard. He said: "If both cars had followed the plans that the team had put in place to the letter, we would have both cars on the front of the grid comfortably, no question. We will have to get through this weekend and then look at the best way forward."

"I'm sick to death of the armchair experts trashing FA and LH (and RD). None of you could drive a Noddy car around Sainsbury's car park without spinning - Any of you actually race cars?"
'63 Tiger on 606

1238: All the teams are finalising their pre-race preparations at the Hungaroring with the sun beating down. The track is a hive of activity, with hundreds of officials, drivers and mechanics running through a series of checks and the atmosphere is building up rather nicely now. A short interview with Lewis Hamilton suggests he is utterly focused on victory, and also that the 22-year-old is becoming increasingly cycnical - pointing out the last few weeks and months have taught him a lot about the "politics involved in racing, and who you can and can't trust". The cheeky little blighter.

"I bet Heidfeld is kicking himself. He got nicely qualified on the clean side of the track and would have fancied his chances of jumping P2 into turn one. Now he is on the dirty side of the track and is the one under threat. He has been inadvertently punished by the Alonso demotion."
DixieBean on 606

"What are the chances Hamilton will have a problem with one of his pitstops!"
John, Coventry via text

1221: "There is no doubt that there are definite tensions within the McLaren team. Alonso has already been claiming this morning that the outcome of this race was determined last night and it is safe to say that Hamilton should go on to win from pole, if he can stay error free. But, as we've seen all season, anything can happen once the race is under way."
BBC Five Live's Holly Samos

"I wonder how Kimi will do, he should have the crowd with him as their is normally a large Finnish contingent at the Hungaroring."
Sarah, Bucks on 606

"I think if Hamilton stays calm and pushes these issues to the back of his mind he has every chance of winning. He was the fastest man over the weekend at one point doing a 1,19.3 lap. Alonso has to learn to control his ego and let his driving do the talking without resorting to dirty tactics."
Kazzapops on 606

1206: "It's actually a fantastic atmosphere here at Hungary. Despite all the furore of last night, attentions are slowly turning to the race itself and, considering the fact that any one of four drivers can still win the Championship, it's all to play for."
BBC Five Live's Holly Samos

1157: Still pretty quiet from you lot on 606 and text. In fact the only text I've received so far this morning is from my mum reminding me to take my take my vitamins, bless 'er. Not particularly F1 relevant admittedly, but nice nonetheless. Anyway, get your missives coming in peeps, and I'll do my best to get the best of them up in lights so you can boast to your mates about being cyberspace-famous...

"Let's hope that despite the controversial administration of the sport, we get to see a fantastic race. I hope Alonso, Kimi, Massa and Hamilton battle throughout the race. You never know, Heidfeld might nick it!"
Ed Bone on 606

1143: Lewis Hamilton arrived this morning cutting a relaxed figure against the backdrop of dozens of cameras, journalists and dictaphones crowding his personal space. As was proved by Saturday's alleged exchange with Ron Dennis, he is not a shy, retiring violet, and I reckon he'll be fired up for victory today...

Hamilton will win. He has proved throughout his racing career, from a young lad, that he is no bottler... The only question today is whether the McLaren will show any loyalty to Alonso and issue him with the preferred strategy. We will see, GO LEWIS!"
Bestyblue on 606

"If they were tactics, then the authorities were right to dock McLaren points in the constructors' race. If McLaren were covering for Alonso, then the authorities were right to demote Alonso and dock McLaren points. The right punishment was dished out. I totally agree with Hamilton's stance. He needs to stand up for his rights, and he did so. I hope he increases his lead...."
mikesiva on 606

1131: Little note on the weather by the way, it's roasting in Budapest! No need for wet tyres at all today you would think... (famous last words!).

1119: McLaren have done their level best to clear up (cough!) Saturday's qualifying incident between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in an official statement. It would appear their reasoning is that they ordered the Spaniard to hold in the pits for 20 seconds, in an effort to grant Lewis Hamilton a free run at his final lap, but that this lapsed to a wait of over 30 seconds due to "concerns expressed following the fitting of used tyres".

It goes on to read: "We do not believe that the findings of the stewards and the severe penalty imposed on the team are appropriate, and that our strenuous efforts to maintain the spirit of fair play and equality within the team have been misunderstood."

Most interestingly, it adds: "Every effort was made yesterday by the team to maintain our policy of equality; however in the heat of the battle there are occasions when the competitive nature of drivers sees them deviate from the agreed procedures."

For the full statement, click on the link to the right and let us know your thoughts...

"I seem to remember Alonso's fans screaming blue murder yesterday evening and demanding apologies from anyone saying he was in the wrong - how nice it is, then, to see those same fans behaving like the gentlemen they are and eating a huge slice of humble pie this morning... (oh, and a pig just flew past the window!)"
Douggielee on 606

1111: Of course, Fernando Alonso was not the only driver pushed down the grid last night after Giancarlo Fisichella was also handed a five-place penalty for unnecessarily impeding Spyker's Sakon Yamamoto during qualifying. Imagine where Yamamoto would have finished without that obstruction hey?! Hhmmm...

"Alonso is a great driver, you can't deny that. However just take a look at his mouth in the pic printed above. It speaks a thousand words, he's like a spoiled brat that has to have all his own way."
isitworthit on 606

"I'm going to make a risky prediction and say Nico Rosberg might win this race. But, then, in a less risky decision, I am going to go for Raikkonen."
Pure indecision from Torres' right peg on 606

1100: Well, well, well, it has all kicked off this weekend, hasn't it? Fernando Alonso had many of us on this merry isle (though by no means all!) in uproar after apparently deliberately delaying Lewis Hamilton's final lap in qualifying in order to ensure he started on pole today - only to be demoted five places hours later following an FIA inquiry.

Whether it was Alonso or the McLaren team's decision remains unclear even now but, if the morning papers are to be believed, Lewis Hamilton let boss Ron Dennis know in no uncertain terms that he will not be tolerating any such tactics in future, telling the big man to "swivel". How very playground...

Anyway, as it stands McLaren will not compete for constructor points this weekend - but Hamilton, starting from pole, has a magnificent chance to extend his lead in the drivers' championship. With overtaking notoriously difficult in Hungary, this could all be done and dusted after lap one couldn't it? Why not get in touch via 606 or by texting 81111 to let us know your thoughts.