BUDAPEST, Aug 6: Briton Jenson Button seized the first victory of his Formula One career in a Hungarian Grand Prix thriller on Sunday.

While the 26-year-old Honda driver ended his long wait, triumphant at last in his 113th start, Renault's world champion Alonso trudged away without a point after leading for much of the afternoon.

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher also failed to score, retiring three laps from the finish to leave the title battle as finely balanced as ever with Alonso 11 points ahead and five races remaining.

Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa was second for McLaren, the best result of his career, with Germany's Nick Heidfeld third for BMW Sauber.

Alonso's car slewed and skidded into the tyre barriers with 18 laps to go while in the lead after a breathtaking charge from 15th place on the grid in wet conditions.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello took fourth place for Honda, ahead of Coulthard in a Red Bull and Toyota's Ralf Schumacher.

Classification: 1. Jenson Button (Britain) Honda 1:52:20.941; 2. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) McLaren +00:30.837; 3. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 00:43.822; 4. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Honda 00:45.205; 5. David Coulthard (Britain) RedBull-Ferrari 1 lap; 6. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota 1 lap; 7. Robert Kubica (Poland) BMW Sauber 1 lap; 8. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1 lap; 9r. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 3 laps; 10. Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) MF1-Toyota 3 laps; 11. Christijan Albers (Netherlands) MF1-Toyota 3 laps; 12. Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso-Cosworth 4 laps; 13r. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 5 laps; 14. Takuma Sato (Japan) Super Aguri-Honda 5 laps.—Reuters