Hungarian GP Thread (Contains Quali/Race spoilers) - Sponsored by who cares

[GSC]

Track: Hungaroring. Permanent circuit.

Race start time: 1pm UK time Sunday (2pm local).

Laps: 70.

Track length: 4.381 km.

Tyre allocation: Medium (white) and soft (yellow).

DRS Zones: Two with one detection point – pit straight and between Turns One and Two.

Driver steward: Emanuele Pirro.

Lap record: Michael Schumacher - 1:19.071 (Ferrari; 2004).

2013 pole: Lewis Hamilton - 1:19.388 (Mercedes).

---

Thursday 24th July
2pm - Drivers' Press Conference

Friday 25th July
8.45am – Hungarian GP Practice One
12.45pm – Hungarian GP Practice Two

Saturday 26th July
9.45am – Hungarian GP Practice Three
12pm – Hungarian GP Qualifying

Sunday 27th July
12pm - The 2014 Hungarian GP – Race

---

Lewis Hamilton is tied with Michael Schumacher as the most successful driver of all-time in Hungary having won the race on four occasions. The Mercedes man broke his duck for the Silver Arrows at the Hungaroing last year and another win in 2014 would make it three in a row at the venue.

Jenson Button is the only other current driver to have won the race on multiple occasions, whilst Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen have also both stood atop the podium in 2003 and 2005 respectively.

2013 result: 1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus); 3. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 4. Mark Webber (Red Bull); 5. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 6. Romain Grosjean (Lotus); 7. Jenson Button (McLaren); 8. Felipe Massa (Ferrari); 9. Sergio Perez (McLaren); 10. Pastor Maldonado (Lotus).

Last five winners in Hungary: 2013: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 2012: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren); 2011: Jenson Button (McLaren); 2010: Mark Webber (Red Bull); 2009: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren).

---

Pirelli will bring the white-marked medium and yellow-banded soft tyres to the Hungaroring, as was the case in 2013.

“The Hungaroring is a relatively slow-speed track, but the race is often run in hot conditions, increasing the work on the tyres. To provide a wide working range and increase opportunities for strategy, the medium and the soft tyres will be brought to Hungary.,” the Italian firm said.

[GSC]

In other news, Pirelli is bringing the softs and mediums to Spa, which should be hilarious.

[Fernando]

In other news, Pirelli is bringing the softs and mediums to Spa, which should be hilarious.

Well that's brave by Pirelli.

Williams bringing a big upgrade package for Hungary. Hungary will show clearer any FRIC-less issues

[GSC]

P1 is underway and Max Chilton is out.

[GSC]

Azerbaijans signed for a street race in Baku from 2016. Which is the new Grand Prix of Europe for some reason

[CaledonianCraig]

Azerbaijans signed for a street race in Baku from 2016. Which is the new Grand Prix of Europe for some reason

Bernie couldn't spell Azerbaijan.

[Fernando]

Hamilton out in Q1 as its on fire.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

AH HAMILTON CONSPIRACY OUT AGAIN

[Fernando]

Bianchi knocks out Kimi in Q1.

[Fernando]

It's raining in Q3. Magnussen flies into barries for a red flag

[GSC]

Vettel goes close but Rosberg takes pole.

[Fernando]

Rosberg on pole by 0.5 from Vettel & Bottas

Ricciardo & Alonso 4th/5th Massa & JB 6th/7th Vergne,Hulk & Magnussen round out the top ten

[bogbrush]

AH HAMILTON CONSPIRACY OUT AGAIN

Damn that British GP, spoils a great conspiracy theory.  

(Or was it just cover for greater outrages to come......)

[GSC]

Eyewitnesses claim to have pictures of Toto Wolff drilling a hole into Hamiltons fuel tank

[GSC]

Should be tougher to overtake than Germany, but still should make it near a podium.

[bogbrush]

Eyewitnesses claim to have pictures of Toto Wolff drilling a hole into Hamiltons fuel tank

The 'sling' no doubt concealing the drill.

God, they'll do anything......   

[Guest]

more terrible luck, so disappointing. another gift for nico, hope for rain. as i feared, reliabililty would be decisive.

[Don Caboose]

With reliability as influential as either Rosberg or Hamilton themselves on the outcome of this year's driver's title, it has to be said that Bernie's double points in the last race idea now seems an inspired decision.

Just a shame it's in Abu Dhabi this year. Suzuka and the former Interlagos really should alternate as hosts to the final races of the season. They always host good races and are proper race tracks not Tilke Test Tracks.

[dyrewolfe]

If it weren't for bad luck, Lewis wouldn't have any at all.   

Interesting to see Vettel and Bottas pushing Nico for pole...until the very last run when Rosberg suddenly found an extra half a second. Think maybe Mercedes were just toying with the other teams, to give them some brief hope...

If it really is that hard to overtake at the Hungaroring, Lewis is going to have to pray for rain, to stand any chance of causing Rosberg problems. At the very least we'll hopefully see another race full of squeaky-bum moments and a bit of wing and wheel-bumping as he fights his way up the field.

Who knows, with Vettel, Bottas and Riciardo behind/alongside him, maybe Nico will actually have to work a bit for his win?

[bogbrush]

If it weren't for bad luck, Lewis wouldn't have any at all.   

Silverstone?

[GSC]

Hamilton changes his chassis, engine and gearbox, electing to start from the pit lane. Short run to the first corner here I guess

[mystiroakey]

This is getting stupid.

[mystiroakey]

If it weren't for bad luck, Lewis wouldn't have any at all.   

Silverstone?

1 to 5 against yeah ok like that makes any difference

[CaledonianCraig]

Even if you don't rate Hamilton then there can be no denying he has had terrible luck compared to Rosberg especially in qualifying. Break failure (I struggle to recall any other such incident happening in quali causing a crash a la Hockenheim) and likewise his car on fire (I struggle to recall any other such incident as well). But Hamilton is where he is and has to make the best of it and hope that the bad luck moves from him to Rosberg in the next few races. He will have done very well if he makes the podium tomorrow. Lets remember that this car failure came after he had topped all the qualifying sessions and has a great record at the track so it is not unrealistic to say he was a shoo in for pole and probably the race win.

[GSC]

His cars quicker than most by over a second a lap. He should get around the Williams at least

[CaledonianCraig]

His cars quicker than most by over a second a lap. He should get around the Williams at least

Yes but the Hungaroring is no an easy circuit to overtake on so he will find it tougher than Hockenheim.

[mystiroakey]

he is saying it will be tough to get top 10- its a very tough track to overtake and he knows the track and usually gets pole there and has won from pole 4 times.

Basically point is - God would struggle to win this race from last place. If rosberg fails to win it will be mechanical only, and even if that happened it will be tough for LH to win.

[GSC]

Easy no but with his advantage he should still clear most of the field.

I'd start on the primes and get some clean air when others pit

[Fernando]

50% chance of rain for tomorrow could help Lewis gain some places. Realistically he'll make it to 12th before issues with cars as their have the ability to defend with kers from him.

[Hulking_up]

It's looking like this year it's Rosberg's to lose.

[Guest]

39 points gap is the worst possible outcome tomorrow with 8 races left, including that 50 point race. I'm not too worried as of yet for Hamilton but the reliability has been quite frankly embarrassing on Mercedes' part. If anything, reliability is going to play an even bigger part in the closing races, as the true effect of cost cutting & running parts to the limit, takes it's toll.

[GSC]

Frankly John, I'd imagine Rosberg winning and Hamilton ot scoring is his worst possible outcome every race

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Its alright cos its fairly obvious Hamilton will win the ridiculous 50 point race and rosberg will DNF in it and the Championship will be tarnished forever

[CaledonianCraig]

Its alright cos its fairly obvious Hamilton will win the ridiculous 50 point race and rosberg will DNF in it and the Championship will be tarnished forever

I agree with what you are saying. The 50 point race is total farce. However, I'd prefer the world champion to be one that has fully earned it and lets be honest if the season carries on in the same vein Rosberg will have won effectively a one-horse race.

[Trebs]

I don't think there's a lot in it as driving ability goes between Rosberg and Hamilton. It's just British fans like to think we have the best driver. Hamilton has had a horrible run of form, but the fact there's only 14 points, probably around 25 after this race assuming Rosberg wins is nothing when there's still a lot of points to play for. If either driver wins because of the double points in the final race it will be disgusting to see.

[mystiroakey]

We do have the better driver. Its not just the brits that would say that - its any F1 fan.



Hamilton hasn't been on any horrible run of form- he has been on a horrible run of luck.

Quick question trebs.

Do you watch f1?

[Trebs]

Yeah, he's had a horrible run of luck which has caused him to have bad form.

Quick answer Mysti
Yes.

[mystiroakey]

I doubt it, and it seems to me you would rather the championship based on bad luck rather than winning the final race- which seems nuts!

if you straight away up the anti of the final race it turns it in to major status- every driver going in  realizes that. It becomes a Wimbledon or an open championship over a regular tour event.

what would be shocking is if th better driver of the year doesn't win because he has had such bad luck and the other driver hasn't especially in a 2 horse race which knocks it down to a 1 horse race.

[CaledonianCraig]

I am confident in saying if, in an ideal world, you gave both drivers 100% reliability with their cars, that Hamilton would come out on top in the title race against Rosberg. Hamilton is the far more aggressive driver who takes risks to make overtakes happen whereas Rosberg is more the sort to wait for mistakes or pitstops to do his overtakes.

[GSC]

Magnusson also starts from the pits

[Fernando]

And it's raining there...

[mystiroakey]

Good!

The more Rain the better

[Fernando]

It's not better Mysti if want Lewis to do well. Means no DRS on one of the few places you could overtake and a lot more difficult to overtake makes it alot easier to fend him off by just using Kers down the straights. Plus he had a lot of tyres over everyone too which would of been handy.

Only positive is a potential SC at the start unless start under SC

[Fernando]

Pastor and Perez have had issues on the out lap and running into gravel traps lol

[Fernando]

The rain has stopped and is starting to dry out...

[mystiroakey]

It's not better Mysti if want Lewis to do well. Means no DRS on one of the few places you could overtake and a lot more difficult to overtake makes it alot easier to fend him off by just using Kers down the straights. Plus he had a lot of tyres over everyone too which would of been handy.

Only positive is a potential SC at the start unless start under SC

not sure - the more rain the more take outs and then the more red flags which brings everyone back together and LH is a top rain driver

[sportform]

I wonder if they thought about putting Hamilton on slicks to start.

[sportform]

"Let us know Lewis if you have anything damaged..." Pride.

[mystiroakey]

Well he is flying through the pack now- the more incidents the better. We need a SC or two.

[mystiroakey]

Now its getting interesting. SC has come and rain is coming!

[Sponsored content]