Alonso makes fine start in Hungary

Fernando Alonso made the perfect start to a Hungarian Grand Prix run under a shadow in the wake of the Felipe Massa’s freak accident in qualifying yesterday.

Starting from his first pole since the Italian Grand Prix of 2007, Alonso was never challenged on the long run down to the first bend at the Hungaroring.

Behind him, and from fourth on the grid, Lewis Hamilton used the KERS in his McLaren to power past the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber who had started second and third.

Running wide out of the first corner, though, Webber was able to pass world champion Hamilton and claim second as Vettel drifted down to seventh.

The young German made a woeful start, notably in being clipped by Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen on the exit of turn one.

Jenson Button, who had started eighth, reclaimed that position down the start finish straight at the end of the first lap, passing the Williams of Kazuki Nakajima.

Thoughts, though, were undoubtedly with Massa, in a stable condition in a Budapest hospital, although he is to remain in a medically-induced coma for the next 48 hours.

Massa sustained a fractured skull and brain concussion after being struck on his helmet by a spring that had worked loose off Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn GP.

The moment of impact was recorded at 162mph prior to Massa then straightlining into a tyre barrier at a speed of 62mph.

In offering their support, the Ferrari mechanics used a pit board bearing the words ’Forza Felipe Siamo Con Te’ which translates as ’Strength Felipe We Are With You’.

Massa had provisionally qualified 10th, but in obviously being withdrawn from the race, it meant those behind him on the grid all moved up a place.