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Sebastian Vettel dedicates Hungarian GP win to Jules Bianchi

Vettel joined on the podium by Kvyat and Ricciardo after action-packed race in Budapest

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Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel has dedicated his victory in the Hungarian GP to the memory of Jules Bianchi

Sebastian Vettel has dedicated his victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix to the memory of Jules Bianchi.

Vettel led the race from the first corner before clinching a deserved win at the Hungaroring just a week after the death of Bianchi, a graduate of Ferrari's Young Driver Programme, at the age of 25.

"Merci Jules, you will always be in our hearts and we know that sooner or later you would have been part of this team," Vettel told his Ferrari crew on the team radio during his slow-down lap.

Before the race, all the drivers formed a circle on the starting grid to hold a minute's silence for their former comrade.

Respects are paid to Jules Bianchi on the grid at the Hungarian GP
Image: Respects are paid to Jules Bianchi on the grid at the Hungarian GP by the F1 drivers

"It is an incredible day, but this victory is for Jules. It has been an incredibly tough week and for all of us it has been very difficult," said Vettel, as he stood on the podium following his second win of the season. "I think everyone at Ferrari knows sooner or later he would have been part of this team."

Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat, who joined Vettel on the podium after finishing a career-best second, added: "It's been a very tough year, race, everything, but I think the team deserved this podium. But this podium goes to Jules Bianchi and his family - we lost a great guy and a great driver."

Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has since revealed that they had planned for Bianchi to replace Kimi Raikkonen once the Finn's time there comes to an end.

More from Hungarian Gp 2015

Raikkonen was running in second place prior to an ERS failure on his car which meant he had to retire from the race. "We are very sorry the car let him down," conceded Ferrari Technical Director James Allison amid ongoing speculation that the team are poised to replace him with Williams' Valtteri Bottas.

Race winner Sebastian Vettel celebrates in parc ferme
Image: Race winner Sebastian Vettel celebrates in parc ferme