Formula One Vault

PREVIEW – Hungarian Grand Prix / testing

Round eleven marks the half way point of the 2017 season and the final race before the summer break, takes Formula One to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The circuit first held a Grand Prix in the 1980’s being the first race to be held in the Soviet Union after years of trying to organise a race in Moscow.

The race takes place in a natural bowl around the two and three quarter mile circuit which provides little grip and very little in terms of overtaking opportunities. The tight and twisty nature of the Hungaroring has earnt it self the nickname ‘Monaco without the barriers’, and has thrown up some unusual results over the past thirty odd years.

Four drivers Damon Hill (in 1993), Fernando Alonso (in 2003), Jenson Button (in 2006), and Heikki Kovalainen (in 2008) all took their first wins in Budapest. But over the last decade the race has belonged to Lewis Hamilton from ten starts he has taken five victories, plus he has never won later than this race in a season.

The 2001 race, saw Michael Schumacher equal Alain Prost’s then record 51 Grand Prix wins at the Hungaroring, in the drive which also secured his fourth Drivers’ Championship which also matched Prost’s career tally.

Budapest is a bit of a curveball and is very difficult to predict as there is normally a surprise result here. But with Mercedes beginning to pull away from Ferrari and Hamilton’s superb record around this circuit he remains favourite. However, Red Bull could come into play as they have a good aero package and have promised a ‘significant’ upgrade this weekend.

Facts and figures

Event timetable

What happened in 2016?

Lewis Hamilton took the lead of the championship after he jumped Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg at the start to take a fifth win in Budapest. Hamilton looked at his best throughout the race despite the traffic and managed to use that to his advantage to pull ahead of Rosberg.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo put in a good performance and lead through the pit stops. He also held off pressure from his former teammate Sebastian Vettel. But, there was controversy as Ricciardo’s team-mate Max Verstappen was accused of holding up and illegally blocking Kimi Raikkonen.

McLaren’s Fernando Alonso finished seventh ahead of team-mate Jenson Button who said he had the “race from hell.” It was a difficult race for the brit who suffered a hydraulic issue.

Full Race Report Full Result Google Collection

2015 vs 2016 Race Data

A lap of … Hungaroring 

Rosberg comes out of sixteen to set himself up going to the outside for the run down towards one breaks down to 80kph before turning in to take the kerb for the short run and speeds through turn two before breaking for three. Gets close to the apex before heading to four. Apex on entry before running out to the outside of the track.

Inside for five and six running to the inside on the exit of the corner. Crosses back over for seven before heading down to eight and nine. Nice straight line through the chicane before the run to twelve. Good line through there to before going into thirteen which is good again before going to the outside to run into fourteen.

Good line as the circuit begins to loop back to the line good through the hairpin at fifteen into the long apex at sixteen goes to the outside and does a time of 01:19.965.

Tyres