Budapest: What You Need to Know
Last race before the summer break and last chance for some protagonists to shine before potential decision-making. Weather, tire choice, the track, various elements will affect the mental and sporting aspect of the drivers. A review of the information to know ahead of this 12th stage of the calendar.
Weather forecasts and their stakes:
The continental climate of Hungary does not spare the Hungaroring circuit, which is regularly hit by the stifling Hungarian heat and unpredictable storms.
The forecasts for this year should be no exception to the rule. If Thursday sees a temperature of 30°C in the air and 50°C on the asphalt, the first driving day on Friday is expected to be wet.
The FP1 session could see the arrival of rain and the accompanying drop in temperatures. The 2nd practice session is also likely to be run in the rain, with the probability currently at 50% for Friday afternoon.
Saturday is likely to experience similar conditions, with a mix of rain and gloom. However, the risk of rain is significantly lower for the qualifications than for the FP3.
Sunday, a bright sun and mixed temperatures are forecasted for the race.
The teams will therefore have to work on different atmospheric possibilities for the upcoming sessions. Let’s hope that this aspect can bring the usual spectacle of these recent races.
The chosen tires:
As the rule requires, the sets of tires available to the drivers were selected 8 weeks ago, as the European stage necessitates. (Let’s recall that for races outside Europe, the needs must be communicated to Pirelli 14 weeks before the race.)
It appears that the choices made are relatively different depending on the teams and drivers.
At Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton has planned for 2 sets of hard tires, 3 medium, and 8 soft. His teammate differs from the Englishman’s choice by opting for only one set of hard tires for 4 mediums.
The Scuderia Ferrari drivers, on their part, prioritized the soft tires with 9 sets each. Charles Leclerc then chose one set of hard tires and 3 mediums, while Sebastian Vettel distributed his choice over 2 hards and 2 mediums.
At Red Bull, the choice is the same for both drivers, with one set of hard tires, three sets of medium tires, and nine sets of soft tires.
Let’s note the bold choice of Ricciardo, Räikkönen, and Albon, with only one set of mediums in stock.
The rain will likely have an impact on the choices made during the race, with intermediate or even full wet tires coming into play.
The Hungaroring, a classic…
On the calendar since 1986, the Hungarian circuit has crossed the Iron Curtain, making it one of the oldest circuits on the calendar alongside Monaco and Monza.
The lush setting, the proximity to the divine Hungarian capital, and the winding track make it one of the must-attend events of the season.
A true old-school circuit, here the corners are in charge. Overtaking is considered difficult but remains accessible to the best drivers in the world present in the premier category. In the game of racing lines and heavy braking, anything is possible.
… acclaimed by pilots:
This type of old-school circuits appeals to drivers. The impact of pure power is mitigated by driving, both in terms of trajectories and braking.
The differences between engines fade away and chassis are king at the Hungaroring.
Back to back #F1 weekends!
Next up the #Fit4F1 #HungarianGP 🇭🇺: https://t.co/VVpBchCeC2 pic.twitter.com/RqPXE2vKXc— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 29 juillet 2019
From our special correspondent in Hungary
