Event of the Day: Formula 1 Hungary Grand Prix
Our event of the day is the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Mogyoród, Hungary. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes qualified in pole position with teammate Valtteri Bottas second, 0.260 seconds slower. Kimi Räikkönen was third and his Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel fourth. Ferrari had looked stronger during the practice sessions when the track was hot and dry. However, heavy rainfall benefited the Mercedes drivers, leaving them in strong positions for todays’ race. The battle to be crowned world champion has been heating up in recent weeks. Now surely a two-horse race between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, the lead at the summit of the drivers’ championship has been swinging from one four-time world champion to the other. Following two successive podium finishes in Austria and Britain, Vettel held a narrow lead over his title rival.
However, a hugely eventful and highly entertaining German Grand Prix resulted in a thrilling victory for Hamilton and a seventeen-point lead at the top of the drivers’ championship. The British driver started the race 14th on the grid. Vettel, who had led the race, crashed out in the rainy conditions and was denied victory at his home grand prix. A controversial stewards enquiry was required before Hamilton’s astounding win was confirmed. The Mercedes driver will go into the Hungary Grand Prix with confidence. His five victories in Mogyoród is a track record. This year’s drivers’ championship carries even greater magnitude, as both drivers are hunting for their fifth world title. With only the great Michael Schumacher holding more, this would cement their place in Formula 1 folklore. The season pauses for a summer break following today’s action. Both drivers will be eager to hold the momentum going into the deciding half of this topsy-turvy season. We are all set for an exciting day in Hungary.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the UEFA European Under 19 Championship final between Italy and Portugal at the Seinäjoki Stadium in Seinäjoki. Italy overcame a classy France side to book their place in the final. Portugal are fresh from a 5-0 trouncing over Ukraine in their semi-final. Further football action can be found in the United States: Seattle Sounders host New York City FC and Orlando City travel to LA Galaxy in the MLS. Elsewhere in the States, the MLB series between the Atlanta Braves and the LA Dodgers continues at SunTrust Park, whilst the San Francisco Giants play the Milwaukee Brewers at AT&T Park. Additional sporting action in California comes from San Francisco, where the San Francisco Marathon takes place today. In Atlanta, Day 7 of the Atlanta Open takes place on the ATP World Tour. The German Open and Swiss Open also enter their seventh day, as do the Moscow River Cup and Jiangxi International Women’s Open on the WTA Tour. World class hockey can be found at Lee Valley where the Women’s Hockey World Cup continues, with favourites the Netherlands against Italy and England versus Ireland. Elsewhere in the UK, there are Natwest T20 Blast fixtures between Worcestershire and Lancashire and Glamorgan and Kent. Day 4 of the European Open gets underway at the Green Eagle Golf Course on the European Tour, whilst on the PGA Tour it’s Day 4 of the Canadian Open at Glenn Abbey Golf Club. The 21st and final stage of the Tour de France finishes on the illustrious Champs-Élysées.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by Formula 1