Dangerous driving
The 2010 Hungarian Grand Prix on the Hungaroring was the twelfth round of the 2010 Formula One season. Red Bull driver Mark Webber, in a class of his own on this circuit, claimed his fourth victory of the season, and reclaimed the championship lead, after Lewis Hamilton’s retirement from the race.
A battle in the mid-field caught our attention though. On lap 42 Rubens Barrichello made his compulsory pit stop from fifth position. Williams had been attempting the strategy of having Barrichello pit late and charge back up through the field on super-soft tyres. Barrichello regained the track in eleventh, behind Michael Schumacher. He then produced fast laps with ease, but quickly became trapped behind the Mercedes of his former Ferrari teammate.
Things came to a head late in the race when Barrichello was able to get close enough to pass Schumacher on the main straight, but, in a dangerous move (pictures above and below), Schumacher attempted to pin Barrichello to the wall, and force him to back off. However, Schumacher’s move came too late, and the Brazilian was already alongside him, and bravely, kept his foot down!
Barrichello very nearly made contact with the concrete wall at over 320 km/h, and was forced across the pit exit, but succeeded to pass Schumacher, who was immediately placed under investigation by the stewards for dangerous driving. He was later issued a ten-place grid penalty for his actions, to be taken at the next race in Belgium.