The 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix was marked by a qualifying dispute between McLaren teammates Hamilton and Alonso that resulted in grid penalties and a Constructor's points ban.
Key Facts
- Race number in 2007 season
- 11th race of the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship
- Date
- 5 August 2007
- Alonso grid penalty
- Dropped 5 places to 6th on the grid
- Hamilton championship lead
- 2 points ahead of Alonso before the race points
- McLaren Constructors' lead
- 27 points ahead of Ferrari before the race points
- Notable last points scorer
- Ralf Schumacher scored his last World Championship points
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Tension between McLaren teammates Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso came to a head during Saturday qualifying when Hamilton refused to honour a team agreement allowing Alonso a clear lap. Alonso retaliated by deliberately holding Hamilton up in the pit lane, denying him a final timed lap.
Stewards penalised Alonso five grid places, demoting him to sixth while Hamilton took pole position. McLaren were additionally stripped of Constructor's Championship points for the race and told no winning constructor's trophy would be awarded if one of their drivers won.
McLaren initially intended to appeal the Constructor's points penalty but withdrew after subsequently losing all their Constructor's Championship points as part of the separate espionage scandal penalty. The incident deepened the rift between Hamilton and Alonso and undermined McLaren's title campaign.