Norfolk-based Team Lotus were hit by technical problems in Hungary as both their drivers failed to finish the race.

Jarno Trulli, back in the seat after missing the German Grand Prix, lasted just 19 laps before a water leak ended his race.

And a similar problem accounted for colleague Heikki Kovalainen, who had completed 56 laps when he was forced to pull out.

'A disappointing end to a strong race,' commented chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne: 'Jarno stopped with a water leak and it looks like the same problem also ended Heikki's race later on, but we need to get the cars back and take a closer look before we can be sure what the problems were.

'Until they stopped both Jarno and Heikki were having strong races, particularly Heikki in the middle stint when he was keeping a lot of cars behind him. So it is disappointing to end like this, but we have definitely taken a step forward here. Now we can go into the well deserved mid-season break which the whole team, here at the track and back at the factory, definitely deserve, and come back refreshed.'

McLaren's Jenson Button won the race to celebrate his 200th grands prix.

To add to the poignancy of his triumph, the Hungaroring had also been the scene of Button's maiden victory in 2006, in similarly changeable conditions given the grey skies and on-off light rain.

Sebastien Vettell was second but still extended his lead at the top of the Driver's Championship to 85 points over Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, who was fifth.

Button's McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton was third with Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) fourth.