Heikki Kovalainen's sole Formula One victory, making him the sport's 100th winner of a World Championship race.
Key Facts
- Race laps
- 70
- Championship round
- 11th of 2008 season
- Winner
- Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
- Kovalainen's career wins
- 1 (only ever)
- Massa engine failure
- 3 laps remaining laps
- Hamilton championship lead after race
- 5 points over Räikkönen
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Lewis Hamilton started from pole position but was overtaken by Felipe Massa at the first corner. The two championship rivals engaged in a prolonged duel for the lead until Hamilton suffered a tyre puncture just past the halfway mark, handing Massa a lead of more than 20 seconds over Kovalainen.
The 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix was held on 3 August at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród. Massa's Ferrari engine failed with three laps to go, allowing Heikki Kovalainen to take victory ahead of Timo Glock and Kimi Räikkönen, who had been delayed by traffic throughout the race.
Kovalainen's win became his only Formula One victory, and he was recorded as the 100th different winner of a World Championship race. Hamilton extended his Drivers' Championship lead to five points over Räikkönen. McLaren moved past BMW Sauber into second in the Constructors' Championship, 11 points behind Ferrari.