The first turn in Hungary has a reputation for providing incident, as the field attempts to make most of its best overtaking opportunity, and Sunday was no different, although the change of positions had begun almost as soon as the lights had gone out. Already missing from the line-up was Christian Klien, forced to start from pit-lane after a fuel leak in his race car forced him into the spare
Red Bull, while others, including second-placed
Felipe Massa and fourth-placed Pedro de la Rosa had had spins on either the formation or warm-up laps, fortunately with no knock-on effect on their grid position.
Poleman
Kimi Raikkonen had had no such drama, and duly got the best start to lead the pack into the tightening right-hander. While the Finn pulled away, however, Massa found himself swamped on the 'dirty' side of the grid, with de la Rosa initially holding second, before third-placed starter
Rubens Barrichello swept around the outside of the first turn to position himself as chief pursuer.
Further back, Massa had his mirrors full of
Giancarlo Fisichella who, in turn, could see Schumacher and Alonso in his, the pair up from eleventh and 15th respectively. Schumacher wasted little time in disposing of the Italian, while both eased past the troubled Massa before the end of the lap, followed by Alonso.
Already out was Sakon Yamamoto, who
Super Aguri career took another early exit, while
Mark Webber appeared to be in difficulty after plummeting to 17th from fifth on the grid. The Australian last one full lap before being forced to call it a day next time around, his Bridgestones apparently giving him no grip, although his reason for retirement will unofficially be listed as 'wing wedged beneath barrier' following one too many offs.
