Race Week in Hungary
FORMULA 1 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
It's race week in Hungary.
F1 stops at the Hungaroring in Budapest, Hungary.
Hungarian GP History: The Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, first held in 1986 at the Hungaroring near Budapest, marked a historic moment as the first Formula 1 race behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. This event, which saw Nelson Piquet win the inaugural Race, showcased Hungary's commitment to hosting a world-class event and drew significant international attention. The Grand Prix's location in a Soviet-influenced state was groundbreaking, subtly challenging the East-West divide and serving as a form of soft diplomacy. It gave Eastern Europeans a rare glimpse of Western culture and fostered economic and cultural exchanges, making it a significant event in the history of Formula 1.
About the Circuit: The Hungaroring is a formal motorsport race circuit about thirty minutes outside Budapest, Hungary. Construction started in October 1985 and took eight months less than any other Formula One circuit. The first Race was held in March 1986. The circuit is a fourteen corner 4.381 km/2.72 miles in length. The Grand Prix is 70 laps.
Weekend Highlights:
As we approach the Hungarian Grand Prix, the excitement is palpable. While Verstappen looks to have wrapped up the Drivers Championship, the battle for the Constructors Championship is still wide open. It has the potential to go late in the season, adding an extra layer of exhilaration to the doubleheader race weekends before the summer break.
How far can Mercedes take it? Mercedes is on a hot streak after back-to-back wins for the first time since 2021. This winning streak has significant implications for the Constructors Championship, as it has the potential to shift the balance late in the season. The Hungaroring is one of Lewis Hamilton's most successful circuits of his F1 career, with eight career wins and nine poles. George has one podium in the Hungaroring during his first two seasons with Mercedes and is in a perfect position to have an excellent finish. Podiums or better are highly likely for Mercedes in Hungary.
Red Bull is 50/50. Even though Max Verstappen did not win the British Grand Prix, Max and the RB team nailed the strategy during the tricky British GP rainy conditions, almost resulting in Max pulling off a victory. Red Bull looked sharp and made great strategy calls, which should give the team some confidence. Meanwhile, there's Sergio Perez, struggling to crack into the top 10, much less a podium. While Max is piecing together a great season, Sergio is not helping his team secure the constructors championship. Sergio needs a strong finish not only to help his team but also to save his job. It's nearly impossible to win a constructor championship without both drivers contributing significantly.
McLaren can make a jump. With the final two double-header races before summer break, Mclaren can shock the F1 world going into the break. The quick and agile Hungaroring favors the McLaren car; having two cars on the podium is a realistic goal for McLaren. Expect an epic effort for these two races before the break.
Ferrari is still a bit off track. Carlos Sainz has been consistent in the last few races but still needs to compete for wins, while Charles LeClerc has been nonexistent since his Monaco victory. Ferrari needs a solid two-car finish during this double header to close the points gaps in the drivers' and constructors' championships. If Ferrari is going to make a charge in the points, it must start before the summer break.
Put some respect on Nico Hulkenberg's name. With back-to-back sixth-place finishes in the last two races, Nico has been on a points grab this season, just a few points behind VCARB; Haas is sitting comfortably in seventh place in the constructor's championships. With the Hungaroring similar to Austria and Spain, Haas has a great chance of having another successful weekend in Hungary.
VCARB keeps it consistent. Yuki and Daniel have been alternating points for the last few race weekends. With a difference of nine points, Ricciardo is looking to close the gap on his teammate. There's an underlying battle for a potential Red Bull second seat for the last half of the season, as well as rumors of Perez's future. VCARB should be an exciting team to watch for this doubleheader weekend.
Alpine needs to get back on track. Pierre Gasly's four-race points streak ended at Silverstone, where he could not start the Race due to a gearbox issue. With Ocon's victory at the 2021 Hungarian GP, Hungary is always a hopeful circuit for Alpine.
Williams looked different at Silverstone. Albon's ninth-place points finish, and Sargeant's eleventh-place finish suggest that Williams has made some progress with the car. The Hungaroring is similar to Barcelona, which was not a great showing for Williams. Magic can happen, but without significant upgrades, Hungary has the potential to be an underwhelming showing for Williams.
Will Stake score a point all season? Stake Sauber still needs to score a point. With glimpses of hope during the season, Stake has yet to capitalize and score a much-needed point; at this point in the season, without significant upgrades, a points finish is looking more out of reach.
