This weekend F1 heads to the Hungaroring, situated on the Northwest outskirts of Budapest, for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Pole position is key on this curvy track, which many drivers liken to Monaco without walls, where overtaking is especially difficult. As a matter of fact, the Hungaroring is the slowest permanent circuit on the F1 calendar in terms of average speed.
Toro Rosso Honda enter the weekend buoyed by the the point Brendon Hartley scored in Germany and somewhat optimistic because of the prospects this lower-speed circuit offers their package. Despite any optimism, the most realistic expectation is to see one car score points as the midfield battle remains incredibly tight.
Elsewhere on the grid, we shouldn’t be surprised to see a situation where Ferrari is battling Red Bull every bit as much as it’s battling Mercedes; all three teams could be represented on the podium here. The midfield race will also be a three-way battle between Renault, Haas, and Force India with the latter experiencing a recent return to form. Sauber and McLaren will look to be interrupters of that three way battle and each try to squeeze at least one competing car out of the points. Williams can be expected to bring up the rear as their downforce issues are still a major problem despite indications from the team that progress is being made.
US TV SCHEDULE
Practice 1 – Friday, July 27 5:00 AM – ESPN3
Practice 2 – Friday, July 27 9:00 AM – ESPN3
Practice 3 – Saturday, July 28 6:00 AM –
ESPNEWS
Qualifying – Saturday, July 28 9:00 AM –
ESPNEWS
Race -Sunday, July 29 9:00 AM – ESPN2
CIRCUIT INFORMATION
Lap data
Lap length: 4.381km (2.722 miles)
Race laps: 67
Race distance: 293.527km (182.389 miles)
Pole position: Left-hand side of the track
Lap record*: 1’16.276 by Sebastian Vettel, 2017
Fastest lap: 1’18.436 (201.076 kph) by Rubens Barrichello, 2004
Maximum speed: 295kph (183.304 mph)
DRS
zone/s (race): Pit straight and second straight
Distance from grid to turn one: 610m
Car performance
Full throttle: 54%
Longest flat-out section: 908m
Downforce level: High
Fuel use per lap: 1.4kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel: 0.042s
Strategy
Quickest complete pit stop in 2013: 21.343s by Red Bull
2017 tyre choices: Supersoft, Soft, Medium
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2017 RESULTS
Laps: 70
Pole: Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1:16.276
Fast race lap: Fernando Alonso, 1:20.182
Podium
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
CURRENT STANDINGS
Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 188
2. Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari, 171
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari, 131
4. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 122
5. Daniel Ricciardo, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 106
6. Max Verstappen, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 105
7. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1, 52
8. Fernando Alonso, McLaren Renault, 40
9. Kevin Magnussen, Haas, 39
10. Sergio Perez, Force India, 30
Constructors
1. Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 310
2. Scuderia Ferrari, 302
3. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 211
4. Renault Sport F1, 80
5. Haas, 59
6. Force India, 59
7. McLaren Renault, 48
8. Toro Rosso, 20
9. Alfa Romeo Sauber, 18
10. Williams Martini Racing, 4
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