Back to back races mean we have only just recovered from what was a great weekend in Germany, before the F1 paddock meanders towards the Hungaroring, with another three days of action on the cards. This is the final race before the summer break, meaning fans will want something excellent that will tide them over the three week holiday, and teams will want to deliver to go out on a high.

Racing in Hungary has something of a mixed history, with a reputation for offering up dull events, but some notable incidents creating memorable weekends. Felipe Massa will, of course, be returning to the scene of his accident from 2009, but the demons should already be passed after he scored well here last year.

Event Schedule

Sebastian Vettel has really shown some signs of weakness now, and gifted other drivers the opportunity for a win. At the Nürburgring, Lewis Hamilton secured his second victory of the season, whilst Fernando Alonso battled hard for podium positions as well. Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Mark Webber showed really well in Germany, and he won the Hungarian race last year, so may be on top form once again this weekend.

Further back on the grid, Lotus will be getting back to normal after their brief weekend with Karun Chandhok, whilst Sébastien Buemi goes into qualifying with a five place grid penalty before he’s even set foot on the track.

The Weather

Last weekend, the forecast suggested rain for three days in a row, and we saw none during any of the sessions. This week, early predictions suggest rain for Friday, but clear skies over the weekend. We’ll have to wait and see what actually occurs though.

Circuit Map

 

The Circuit

The Hungaroring is a circuit that can offer greatness, or it can offer very little. Grip is always a concern when the cars first turn up, as the track is not heavily used and it takes time for the tarmac to get rubbered in. The weekend can often be hot, but anything would be warmer than the conditions at Germany, so it may be a bit of a change for the drivers.

The track is slow and twisting, with only one real straight – the start/finish straight. The FIA have declared the DRS detection zone to be just before the final corner, with the activation going into the home straight.

Tyre Compounds