[ds.raikkonen]

The twisty, front limited circuit is back this weekend. I am really enjoying these back to back races!

Pirelli has allocated the same tyre set-C2, C3, C4 for the weekend so expecting a one stop race, probably 2 for VER this time around given that he lost out to HAM last year

2019 Pole sitter: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing-Honda)

2019 Race Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2019 Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen (1:17.103 on lap 69)

Schedule


Circuit Information


2019 Results

[shibujp]

Given the twisty nature of the circuit, it is notoriously difficult to overtake on. So whoever nails pole will have an advantage.

Hopefully Ferrari can get their updates fully tested here after last week's debacle..

Some circuit stats:
Top speed 305km/h/190mph (fastest of season: Monza, 350km/h/217mph)
Full throttle 55 per cent (highest of the season: Monza, 75 per cent)
Fuel consumption 1.5kg per lap, which is low
ERS demands Medium.
Gear changes 48 per lap/3360 per race
Brake Wear Low

Looks to be a low attrition circuit with all 20 cars finishing last year. Last year Verstappen was put on a one stop strategy using hard tyres but Hamilton was able to reel him in on a two stop strategy switching to mediums after an less than ideal sortie on hards.

Drive on,
Shibu.

[ds.raikkonen]

Originally Posted by shibujp

Last year Verstappen was put on a one stop strategy using hard tyres but Hamilton was able to reel him in on a two stop strategy switching to mediums after an less than ideal sortie on hards.

Exactly, which is why I believe Red Bull will opt for a 2 stopper this time around. Plus the fact that Adrian Newey focused to improve performance in slow speed corners, where Mercedes used to dominate last year. But this has costed them speed on the straights.

They also have a complicated front end which is not compatible to install Mercedes type DAS system, hence they're complaining about it to the stewards. Have to give it to the Mercedes team, they keep on innovating year after year and bring something or the other to make others rethink their car design! Even Adrian Newey hasn't got an answer to the W11's pace.

Though Mercedes have gone conservative with their tyre selection strategy, they have enough performance to breach Q3 on mediums probably and then go for a long first stint. Really hope weather plays something, that amazing 2006 Hungarian GP comes to mind when Kimi took pole but retired due to mechanical issues, Renault pit crew botched Alonso's pit stop and he had to retire, after he had put an amazing move on the outside of Michael Schumacher on intermediates. And Jenson Button won his first grand prix in the Honda! Good memories.

The Hungaroring should play into Red Bull and Verstappen's hands. Can't wait for this one!

[arun_josie]

FP1 Classification:

Racing Point looks quick here as well. Red Bull was testing multiple parts, so this result doesn't show their genuine pace.

[shibujp]

So Vettel gets something to cheer about topping the charts in FP2. In a very rainy FP2. Not sure if we can read too much into this but tommorrow is forecast to be rainy as well. Not too much maybe as 7 drivers including Lewis did not set a time in this session.



The top ten on FP2.



Drive on,
Shibu

[sgiitk]

With P2, P3, Q, and the race all raining this be a joke. In P2 they were running full wets. So Q will be a joke. With Hungaroring notoriously difficult for overtaking even the race may be decided in Q itself. The more powerful Mercs & Hondas may have the edge. I doubt Ferrari will be able to match the power of these two. I do hope there are no internecine crashes of Ferrari.

[shibujp]

Came across this analysis on the F1 official site that shows the performance of the teams in both practice sessions.

Hungaroring Friday pace analysis

The graphs clearly show the pace differential of the cars through each turn. Interesting piece of information to make sense of free practice sessions.

Drive on,
Shibu

[Red Liner]

You guys need to start putting down the IST for both qualifying and race day...granted I can get it from google, but I visit teambhp more often

[shibujp]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

You guys need to start putting down the IST for both qualifying and race day...granted I can get it from google, but I visit teambhp more often

Will do from next race. Here are the timings for this race.

19 JUL Race 18:40 - 20:40 IST

18 JUL Qualifying 18:30 - 19:30 IST

18 JUL Practice 3 15:30 - 16:30 IST

Drive on,
Shibu.

[Night_Fury]

That Mercedes is unbelievable. Quite possibly the best F1 car ever made and it's seriously depressing. Racing point running a previous year Merc and still faster than the rest

[bosem123]

Originally Posted by ds.raikkonen

Exactly, which is why I believe Red Bull will opt for a 2 stopper this time around. Plus the fact that Adrian Newey focused to improve performance in slow speed corners, where Mercedes used to dominate last year. But this has costed them speed on the straights.

Speaking of Mercedes, they certainly appear to be in a class of their own this season. But guess what.. Racing Point is now closest to the leaders. I have been rooting for Racing Point ever since it was Force India, and tomorrow's race seems to be mighty interesting, given the thick clouds looming above

[reignofchaos]

Nerfing the ferrari engine has caused serious harm to the sport. This season is really boring compared to before due to lack of credible opposition to Mercedes.

[arun_josie]

This is 90th pole position for Hamilton!. With Verstappen starting at P7, this more of looks like a fight between Hamilton and Bottas for the win. Hope it rains and makes the race interesting.

[ds.raikkonen]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

This is 90th pole position for Hamilton!. With Verstappen starting at P7, this more of looks like a fight between Hamilton and Bottas for the win. Hope it rains and makes the race interesting.

Mercedes once again in a league of their own! Had Hamilton not pumped in that final lap in, Bottas would have snatched pole away from him, shows how quick Bottas is this year.

The pink Mercedes locks out the 2nd row ahead of the Ferraris, should be an interesting scrap tomorrow! Have to give it to them, they risked their medium tyre times in Q2 and came out on top. Have a feeling Perez will show much better race pace than Stroll. Let's see what the McLarens can do in the first few laps.

Red Bull again struggled with their setup, I agree with what Martin Brundle said regarding the fact that their car set up is probably on a knife's edge and they will have to find it quickly. At least for the sake of F1 fans who desperately want to see Max fighting with the Silver Arrows who are quickly disappearing in the horizon

[tharian]

Hamilton getting out of the car perceived as meditation by someone in the newspaper office.