Formula 1: Round 11 - Hungarian Grand Prix

frostie500

Sorry about the delay, been flat out all week!

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After Sebastian Vettel’s dominant start to the season recent races have seen the reigning world champion stutter with Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton winning the last two races at Silverstone and the Nurburgring. Their recent successes have buoyed the paddock with a belief that while Vettel is still firmly in the ascendancy that there is now potential for him to be forced to sweat it out for his second championship.

The Hungaroring Circuit

While not universally praised the Hungaroring is one of the more challenging circuits facing the teams and drivers throughout the season.

The challenge of Hungary is not found in fast corners that demand bravery from the drivers. The inherit difficulties of the Budapest venue is that the circuit is one of the most technical on the calendar.

Drivers are constantly active on a lap of the Hungaroring with no time to rest during the entire duration of the race.

Last year’s winner, Mark Webber, was one of many drivers to emphasise that point:

“The track is pretty short and very technical,” commented the Australian. “So it's a busy lap for us. There are limited places for overtaking, so we'll see how the DRS helps with that this year. The Hungaroring should suit our car well, we were very strong there last year and more of the same this year would be good.”

The performance of the Red Bull is sure to be one of the key developments of the weekend. The team has clearly lost a considerable amount of their early season speed advantage and with Alonso having taken the most points over the course of the last three races it is clear that this race is pivotal for Red Bull.

With the three break upcoming and the enforced factory shutdown whichever team wins this weekend can take crucial momentum into the rest of the season.

Red Bull’s struggles in recent races have been linked to their inability to maintain tyre life throughout race stints. This was perfectly illustrated at the Nurburgring by their inability to keep Webber in the lead after pit stops.

The Australian took pole position and it was clear that Red Bull had the fastest car once again in Germany but in race trim the ultimate pace of a car is less important because of the refueling ban. Tyre life has become the most important factor in race pace.

The main issue afflicting Red Bull seems to be linked to the amount of time it takes to get their tyres up to temperature. The team gains an advantage in qualifying because their tyres get into their optimum operating window before their single Q3 qualifying lap but in race trim this leads to their tyres losing grip earlier than their rivals.

Ferrari has found a great balance between qualifying speed and optimum race tyre life; this has been shown by Alonso’s performance since the Canadian Grand Prix. The other factor that will affect tyre life this weekend is the track surface. Renault’s Nick Heidfeld commented on this:

“It's a very twisty, tight circuit with tarmac that normally gives the cars high grip so it's good fun to drive and I'm looking forward to it.”

Setup challenges of the Hungaroring

Hungary is generally compared to Monaco in terms of car setup. Maximum downforce is required and quick direction change is a necessity for this track that constantly has driver getting ready for the next corner.

Williams' technical director, Sam Michael, commented on the challenges facing teams this weekend:

"Budapest is a high downforce circuit, with lots of slow speed corners,” said the Australian. “It has quite a bumpy track surface compared to normal. Usually there is a reasonable improvement in grip as the weekend progresses due to the dusty nature of the circuit. We will have new bodywork to test on the Friday, and we will also run KERS on both cars."

In the lead up to this race Williams announced that the Korean Grand Prix will be Michael’s last race with the team following their much publicised technical shakeup. The Australian though is clearly fired up to end his time with the team on a high note and with Rubens Barrichello having won here in the past the team is expecting a strong showing this weekend.

Due to its tight and twisty nature qualifying has traditionally been key at the Hungaroring. This season with DRS and the new Pirelli tyres could allow a driver to move through the field with greater ease but qualifying off the front two rows will still make for a very difficult race on Sunday.

Renault’s technical director, James Allison, knows that this is the primary challenge for teams this weekend:

“Getting a good qualifying lap will involve having a car which has a good high downforce setup and is able to cope with some of the bumps around the track.”

Alison went on to comment on the fact that track evolution will also play a key role over the weekend.

“It is tough for race engineers and drivers alike. Setup changes normally yield results which are of the order of 0.1sec/lap, but the track evolution can be over 1sec/lap. The challenge is the same for all teams however.”

Strategy for the Hungarian Grand Prix

The layout of the Hungaroring means that tyres take a pounding at the venue. With lots of slow speed second and third gear corners it is very easy to overheat tyres. This issue is also compounded by the fact that there are numerous long corners during the lap, corners like turn five, put considerable load on the outside tyres.

Any driver that can keep as smooth a line and throttle position through the corner will help tyre life and could be the difference between making a two stop strategy pay off rather than use an additional stop due to tyres “falling off the cliff.”

This phrase was key in the early races of the season but, by and large, teams have now found out how to avoid this. High temperatures are expected for Sunday and this could be the first time in recent races that the Pirelli tyres will be used in such conditions. This could play a key role during the proceedings.

Sauber confirmed that they would field an unchanged driver lineup next year and with Kamui Kobayashi enjoying a strong season the Japanese star could be well placed to cap off a great week with another strong race by taking advantage of a two stop strategy.

Can Red Bull regain the initiative?

Red Bull’s early season dominance saw Vettel take six victories in the opening eight races but the German had some very tight battles in Malaysia, Monaco and Spain. The race pace discrepancy of Red Bull versus the rest of the field was quite large but the inherit speed of the RB7 allowed the team to still win races.

With Ferrari and McLaren improving their one lap qualifying speed the challengers are now close to be being on par in qualifying but have, in the last two races, been faster on race day.

This weekend’s race will be very telling for Red Bull as to whether they can regain their race day form and take their first win since Valencia. Mark Webber has stood on the lowest step of the podium for the last four races and the Australian has clearly gotten on top of his early season issues adapting to the Pirelli tyres. Last year Webber won in Hungary and his improved form could play a key role in the championship with Alonso and Hamilton sure to be thrilled at the prospect of another competitive car taking points off of the reigning champion.

Webber was clearly fired up in Germany following the team orders in Silverstone but the Australian now knows that it is crucial that he starts to take advantage of his Red Bull and starts to win races this year.

Since winning in Canada Jenson Button has taken just eight points and the former world champion knows that it is very important to overcome his recent retirements in Britain and Germany.

The McLaren driver has been driving well in 2011 but after Hamilton bounced back to form last weekend it is crucial that the Woking based team get both drivers back to the front of the field challenging for victories.
Hamilton has always gone well in Hungary and is the only other driver on the grid, apart from Michael Schumacher, with multiple victories at the venue including a stunning win two years ago.

Coming on the back of his stunning victory in Germany, which Hamilton proclaimed as the best race of his career, it is clear that the Englishman is racing at the top of his game.

The battle between Hamilton and Alonso in Germany was thrilling but unless Ferrari has improved their slow speed corner performance it is unlikely that he will be able to challenge for the victory.

As a result it seems that Alonso may have to consolidate his title bid with a strong podium finish that will allow him to carry his strong momentum into the summer break before the Ferrari can stretch its legs at Spa and Monza.
This weekend’s race looks set to be a battle between Vettel, Webber and Hamilton but the fact that Alonso’s Ferrari is incredibly kind on its tyres could play a key role in the outcome of proceedings.

Sauber and Force India ready to push

In the midfield battle Mercedes have admitted that they are fighting a losing battle with their 2011 car. The team started the year in good form but their development has been disappointing throughout the season and now Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher are likely to be saddled with an increasingly uncompetitive car until season’s end.

This is great news for teams like Sauber and Force India. Both will have upgrades this weekend and with Sauber eager to hold onto a top six finish in the constructors’ championship it is clear that the Swiss team will be eager to push their development to the limit to aid Kobayashi and Perez until the close of the season.

Force India enjoyed a strong outing in Germany with Adrian Sutil returning to form. The German has been overshadowed by his rookie team-mate, Paul di Resta, in 2011 but in recent races his pace has improved and now the Silverstone based squad have two viable points’ scorers at each race.
The same cannot be said for Renault. The squad has struggled in recent months to regain their early season form and with Bruno Senna taking to the track in FP1 it is clear that the team are now looking towards next season and evaluating whether the Brazilian is a viable race driver in the future.

Williams have finished in the points the last two races, Barrichello finishing ninth both times, and the Cosworth powered car is clearly returning to competitiveness. This is one of Barrichello’s favourite tracks and the Brazilian will be looking to add to his ten top ten finishes at the venue.

His team-mate, Pastor Maldonado, has done well in his rookie season and having been victorious in GP2 in Hungary he is clearly confident ahead of the weekend:

"I really like the Hungaroring,” said the rookie. “I won the main race last year in GP2. The track is really slow speed so we might need to change our set-up quite a lot to adapt to that kind of circuit. There isn't a single corner I like more than any other, I just like the track as a whole."

F1 2011 revolves on Pirelli tyres

Pirelli are clearly looking forward to the challenges of this weekend’s race with motorsport boss, Paul Hembery, saying:

"Hungary certainly couldn't be more different to the races we have seen recently, as we found out when we went to the Hungaroring for our first season of the GP3 series last year. However, as the GP3 tyres are completely different to those we race in Formula One, there's not much that we learned apart from an initial idea of what to expect: high temperatures and a slippery track surface.

"The big challenge for the teams and drivers is going to be keeping tyre wear under control in the warm conditions, but we have used the P Zero Yellow soft tyre in warm weather before and it has shown good performance. The supersoft tyre is almost certain to result in some quick qualifying laps but obviously it doesn't have the same resistance to wear. How the teams juggle the parameters of speed and durability will once again form the key to their different strategies. There has been plenty of drama at the Hungaroring in the past and with so many new elements to the racing this year, I hope we're in for another exciting grand prix."

Weather for this weekend

Rain has followed Formula 1 around the globe in 2011 and this weekend’s proceedings will also be under threat of poor weather coming into play. Dark skies will be a feature throughout the weekend, with rain a possibility on Saturday, but blue skies and high temperatures are expected for the race.

mike65

BBC has last years race on the red button, watched it this afternoon. My God Schumi was reckless when Barrichello made his move on the straight, as for the pit lane mayhem - madness! Didn't MS spend most of a Hungarian GP in 5th gear one year and still finished in the points?

frostie500

mike65 wrote:

Didn't MS spend most of a Hungarian GP in 5th gear one year and still finished in the points?

I don't remember him doing that un Hungary but in Spain 94 he finish second to hill after being stuck in fifth. It was stunning and the only that his early season five race winning streak came to an end

losthorizon

mike65 wrote: »

BBC has last years race on the red button, watched it this afternoon. My God Schumi was reckless when Barrichello made his move on the straight, as for the pit lane mayhem - madness! Didn't MS spend most of a Hungarian GP in 5th gear one year and still finished in the points?

He could have killed Rubens. Best overtake of the year though!

amacachi

The more I see that the less I see the problem with what Schumacher did. He obviously left more than a car width to his side, should he do what everyone does for Hamilton and get out and fit some fcuking red carpet for them? He didn't weave, he set a diagonal path down the straight and stuck to it leaving a space for Rubens.


Short of rain I'd be surprised to see either McLaren near the top 3 in the race if the rest are reliable.

sockpuppets

not good news to wake up to

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/8669816/Sky-Sports-to-show-every-Formula-One-race-live-next-season-as-BBC-cuts-back-F1-coverage.html

Ghost Train

Great to see the exhaust gases from the Renault on the thermal imaging camera

vectra

amacachi wrote: »

The more I see that the less I see the problem with what Schumacher did. He obviously left more than a car width to his side, should he do what everyone does for Hamilton and get out and fit some fcuking red carpet for them? He didn't weave, he set a diagonal path down the straight and stuck to it leaving a space for Rubens.


Short of rain I'd be surprised to see either McLaren near the top 3 in the race if the rest are reliable.

Except for Button in Canada :pac:

amacachi

A few showers like at the WTCC race a coupla months ago would be awesome :pac:

amacachi

Live timing being silly for everyone else? Positions are updating but times aren't.

Ghost Train

not looking at timing

Button and Alonso looking fast, were the redbulls on the super soft for there first runs in q2?

amacachi

Was just about to say about Hamilton, one quick lap per session so far, not wasting tyres like the rest of the top 6.

Ghost Train

to be able to get through q2 without using the softer tyre is impressive, looking pretty good for q3

Grim.

get the **** in massa

well done vettel

Ghost Train

Good job from Massa

interesting line up for the race, Mclaren looking good

LEIN

Would have been nice to see something other than a Redbull on poll!

Should be a good race tomorrow.

pegasus1

its seems that jake and the lads are pissed off with the bbc/sky deal what with the double puns at the end of the qual show!

prop were told to make no mention of it or else too from the bbc..

Charlie-Bravo

Heard Brundle at one stage saying to Coulthard which drivers will be in the dole queue in front of them next year!! He is mega pist!!

EvilMonkey

Delighted for Massa, out qualifies Alonso in Hungary
Great lap by Vettel

Sabre0001

Almost certain that either

a) Alonso will do everything to jump Massa at the start

OR

b) Massa stays ahead, doesn't go quick enough and ruins the race for Alonso and Ferrari.


I've lost all confidence in him unfortunately. Hamilton to win tomorrow I would say.....

GTE

amacachi wrote: »

The more I see that the less I see the problem with what Schumacher did.

I agree, the more I look at it the more I think the grass at the exit of the pit lane made it look worse as both cars had to swerve to avoid it.


Take the grass out and we have this "*whatever team* spaced gap" that Brundle is always talking about during overtakes.

GTE

pegasus1 wrote: »

its seems that jake and the lads are pissed off with the bbc/sky deal what with the double puns at the end of the qual show!

prop were told to make no mention of it or else too from the bbc..

What were they? I was annoyed at Jake constantly saying "on the BBC" at every point he could. If he is angry at the deal he is giving me the wrong impression.

LEIN

bbk wrote: »

What were they? I was annoyed at Jake constantly saying "on the BBC" at every point he could. If he is angry at the deal he is giving me the wrong impression.

Brundle was at it too.

EvilMonkey

Jake only cares about his presenter career at BBC imo.

amacachi

Agree on that about Jake. He's enthusiastic yes, but right from the start that's all he had going for him as far as I could tell.


I'd be happy enough tomorrow if the top 3 stay the same at the end of the first lap tomorrow, I can see Hamilton taking an early stop with his loads of tyres available, forcing Vettel's hand while Button takes it easy. Hopefully we'll end up with a Spain-esque situation with Vettel subbing for Alonso.

jmath07

EvilMonkey wrote: »

Delighted for Massa, out qualifies Alonso in Hungary
Great lap by Vettel

yeah me to big massa fan but i dont think vettel will win cos the super softs will burn up in ten laps. and button can take care of his so my money is on him.

lord lucan

No sign of rain for todays race but it's cool and overcast apparently so should be similar conditions to last weeks race at the Nurburgring. The McLaren seemed best suited to them conditions so it should be interesting today.

amacachi

Won't be as cool as last week and hopefully the cooler conditions than yesterday don't suit the RBs.

Charlie-Bravo

lord lucan wrote: »

No sign of rain for todays race but it's cool and overcast apparently so should be similar conditions to last weeks race at the Nurburgring. The McLaren seemed best suited to them conditions so it should be interesting today.

It was nice and wet in this morning's GP3 race. GP2 only being shown as delayed coverage on Eurosport later this afternoon. It will be much colder than yesterday...on the GP2 live timing it has track temp at 16, and Wet Dry at 1. Not sure if 1 means wet though!

lord lucan

No rain forecast for the F1 that i can see but you never know. Looks like it'll be dull and overcast,a bit like here actually.

amacachi

Almost certain "1" is wet, though whether that means rain or just a wet track I don't know.

LEIN

Max of 18C. Should be a cold track temp.

Will it have the same effect as they have soft and super soft?

Itssoeasy

Watching now and it appears to raining ATM.

Richard Hillman

Threw €1 E/W on Schumacher at 200/1. Its worth a punt

lord lucan

Rain!:D:D

Mike Litoris

Sweat!!:D

bnt

Nuts!! :P

I'm enjoying the bit on at the moment - Lewis & Jenson vs. the BBC crew at changing wheels in a pit stop. Pretty good on both sides, only a second or so off the real pit crew. The mechanics of those guns and wheel nuts look interesting too - designed to avoid getting the threads crossed etc - but they don't always get it right, as Jenson found out a few weeks ago ...

cherryghost

Kovaleinen for a points finish

Richard Hillman

Ive never seen bernie move so fast when he just seen the BBC :pac:

dastardly00

Interview with Jenson yesterday talking about his 200th GP and how he is really looking forward to having some cake! (skip to 1min 12 sec into the interview)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDpJW2sdxjA

Charlie-Bravo

Do you reckon Brundle got a slap on the wrists for his comments yesterday and had the grid walk taken from him??

edit: his tweets say too far from commentary box...anyone remember if there was a grid walk last year and this is just a line?

"no grid walk tomorrow, too far from the grid to comm box I'm afraid. Spa is one of the closest so will definitely do that" http://twitter.com/#!/MBrundleF1

lord lucan

He's missed a few this season so it could be an honest answer. Can't see the BBC being that petty.

Autosport

Right i'm ready to go bring on the downpour

amacachi

How wet is it?

TBH I hope Button doesn't get ahead of Hamilton early, he has a habit of burning out wet tyres very quickly and we need someone to challenge Vettel.

Autosport

no dont start with the safety car :mad:

lord lucan

Autosport wrote: »

no dont start with the safety car :mad:

Nowhere near wet enough for that.

naughto

big pile up at the 1st cornor thats what i want:D:D

do the bbc have the rights to f1 next year or isthis thelast yr

Minstrel27

astrofluff wrote: »

Do you reckon Brundle got a slap on the wrists for his comments yesterday and had the grid walk taken from him??

If he did it didn't make a difference. Started today saying "Sky has closed in"

amacachi

lord lucan wrote: »

Nowhere near wet enough for that.

Nor was it any other time they've done it lately. :pac:

Nice and wet through first sector anyway.

Autosport

Look at the spray :eek: come on Button

lord lucan

amacachi wrote: »

Nor was it any other time they've done it lately. :pac:

True.:p