F1 Flashback - Hungary 2006

The 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix was not only a dramatic and eventful race, it also gave Jenson Button his first Formula 1 win. As an avid fan of the Brit, it is undoubtedly one of my favourite ever races due to the euphoric result.

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I remember how tense the closing stages were as I watched with my family as we congregated around the TV – similar to the way we all gathered around the Television for his world title win in 2009. It was a milestone that he should have reached at the 2004 German Grand Prix but the long wait was well worth it.

The race was quite frankly fantastic. Rain arrived for the start and that always spices up the action. Quite shockingly, it was also the first ever Hungarian Grand Prix to take place in wet conditions. After a lowly grid position due to an engine change, the conditions were perfect for the then Honda race driver.

It’s fair to say that he has the talent. We knew that already from glimpses between 2000 and 2003 before he starred in 2004. I still feel that he could have won the German round of that season if he had not had the engine change; he went from 14^th to second so why shouldn’t he have won it from third on the grid? He did it one handed as well which had me in awe. 

I’ve always been a fan of Button but I try and keep my writing on Formula 1 unbiased. Since a young age, I always supported the British drivers but as I got more involved in the sport around the time that he hit the front with BAR Honda in 2004, I really started to like his driving style – smooth and almost error free, effortless looking driving - and his likeable personality: friendly, funny and down to earth. It had been a long wait for his first win but I always felt he had it in him, it’s just that Jenson needs a car that he has full confidence in and it all needs to come together and up until that point it hadn’t. That soon changed.

The 2006 season had been difficult for the Somerset racer after promise in winter testing. The car wasn’t as quick as expected and they only managed the odd podium finish in the first few rounds. In fact, the Brit had his usual mid-season slump – five races with no points scored between Monaco and France – but was having the typical come-back. Fourth in Germany was progress and the momentum was brought forward to Hungary a few weeks later.

The race is still firmly set in my mind. The track was damp to start off with but the majority of the drivers went for intermediate tyres. Despite the slippery conditions, Button managed to make his way carefully through the field. The conditions were perfect for him as he has always had a knack for driving in wet conditions as he can feel where the grip is and take different lines to gain extra traction. 

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Michael Schumacher also started from a poor grid slot after a controversial two days building up to the race. The seven time world champion overtook Kubica and championship rival Alonso under the red flag and he was given a two second penalty for each qualifying session. Alonso was given the same penalty for two separate incidents, overtaking under yellow flags and brake testing Robert Doornbos’s Red Bull. 

Schumacher was trounced by Button in the less than ideal conditions, overtaking strongly into turn one as the Ferrari driver struggled for grip. That was after rather tentative start for the Brit, eager to stay out of trouble but that overtake a few laps later really proved the superiority of Button in those conditions. I remember that early on it was tough to keep up with the action and where Button was because there was so much drama on track and the cameras were focusing on other things. It was one of those wet races where the first few laps were frantic as drivers jostled for position and the likes of Schumacher, Alonso and Button made their way through the field. Thrilling stuff and it was only lap one.

It was clear to see who had the speed on the opening laps. The trio mentioned above made it look easy in the early stages and there was no one on their level other than leader Kimi Raikkonen who had started on pole. I recall the thrilling and edge-of-my-seat moment when Alonso attempted a pass on Schumacher at the final corner but the German cut him off and left him with nowhere to go. The Spaniard then took a less conventional way to pass him; around the outside at turn seven.

Jenson had a solid first few laps but then his progress kicked in. After passing Schumacher (who damaged his front wing a few laps later after contact with Fisichella) and race leader Raikkonen crashed out after a misjudgement went lapping Luizzi. The Italian moved to the left and slowed but Raikkonen didn’t expect him to back off and before he could sweep around the Toro Rosso, he was crashing into his right-rear wheel. That brought out the safety car and by the time the race had restarted, JB was in second place. That was thanks to a strategy call not to pit him for fresh tyres and leave his one and only pit stop to later in the race.

He lost time on the restart due to battling traffic ahead. After displacing Ralf Schumacher, Felipe Massa and the Super Aguri of Takuma Sato he began to close in on Alonso out front. Behind there was action all over the place with Coulthard and Schumacher tangling, Massa making contact with the other Schumacher and the backmarker's battling hard for pride.

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Alonso pitted whilst fending off Button for first but when he rejoined he slithered off at turn one. He was on intermediate tyres – Scott Speed had a similar slide early on after making the switch to dry tyres too early – but it was a problem with the wheel nut. It eventually departed on the run to turn three and he slid off into the barrier, promoting Jenson into the lead.

At this point, I was ecstatic. I could not believe it. It’s questionable as to whether Button could have closed in and passed Alonso had the Spaniard finished the race. I still believe it would have been possible but now he was in a clear lead and just needed to keep the car on track. Cue a fluttering of nerves.

The Brit pitted for dry tyres a few laps later with little challenge from behind. He rejoined still in the lead – always a good sign – and on the right tyres after a good strategic call. Further back, Ferrari had kept Schumacher out on intermediates but he struggled in the closing stages. De La Rosa tried to overtake at the chicane but the German straight-lined it. On the next lap he had a clearer run up the inside and that left ‘Schumi’ falling into the clutches of Heidfeld.

His countryman positioned his BMW Sauber F1.06 down the inside into the same chicane that De La Rosa had got right a few laps earlier. There was the slightest of contact and another cutting of the track by Schumacher but it didn’t matter because his suspension was damaged and that put pay to his race.

The feeling when he crossed the line was fantastic. I had supported him ever since I got interested in the sport and supported him through the good and bad, keeping the faith that his talent would match up with a strong car and the right conditions to win his first race. I was elated for him, really pleased and relieved as you could tell how tired he was getting of answering the question “When will you get your first win?”

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I’m sure plenty of you understand the feeling felt when a driver you support does well. Not only are you happy for them, you are happy for all the team. It’s a great feeling and one that is 100 times (or more) better for the drivers and teams themselves. That day was very special and not only was it a milestone I had been wanting Button to reach for some time, it was also a thrilling and dramatic race as well that entertained Formula 1 fans as a whole.

It was a race full of milestones. It was Button’s first race win, De La Rosa’s first podium finish and BMW Sauber’s first podium finish. Quite a race, quite a result and one I will remember for a long, long time.