What, Budapest already? Time is flying in the 2011 Formula 1 season and time is also flying for those trying to beat Sebastian Vettel. They took some points out of him last Sunday, but can they knock his confidence further by doing it again in tight and twisty confines? Enjoy this one – it’s the last for a month…
The Hungarian Grand Prix is the 11th round of 19 this year. Once the action is over at the Hungaroring, those making up the circus – drivers, team bosses, stewards, journalists, cameraman, security guards, catering staff et all – will wave goodbye to one and other for the last time until Spa at the end of August. It’s a shame for us not to see any racing across what is a holiday period for most, but it does act as a much-needed chance for personnel to reunite with families and recharge batteries.
Whoever wins on Sunday will be carrying a fantastic booster into the break. No matter what anybody says, failing to get a result will serve as a big spot of bother. So, first of all, what did we learn in Germany? That Vettel can be beaten? Well, we all knew that anyway, but it is true that his contenders needed to be reminded of it. Ironically, although he achieved his worst result since Korea last year – thanks to a ‘lowly’ fourth place – the championship lead only decreased by a meagre three points.
This reiterates what I’ve said before and, incidentally, what 1982 title contender John Watson has said this week. If the German isn’t to become the first back-to-back F1 Champion since Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006, not only do the others need good results but they need other things to happen. Although nobody would wish for such a happening, an injury for Vettel may be the only thing between him and 2011 glory. At least, that will be the case if different rivals keep on winning and therefore simply taking points off each other. If a single man – notably team-mate Mark Webber – could continually beat them all, we could have a different situation on our hands.
We also have a couple of anniversaries this weekend. Nico Rosberg hits his century of race starts, having debuted for Williams at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix. Another Williams protégée is Jenson Button, who is now about to start F1 race number 200 – having entered the sport in 2000 and won his maiden race in Hungary six years later.
As we discussed the championship fight at some length prior to the Nürburgring, let’s delve further down the field. What did you make of Team Lotus replacing Jarno Trulli for one race? It certainly gave Karun Chandhok a good chance to brush up his skills but, with hindsight, it was a wrong move which only slowed the team’s progress. You also can’t help thinking, even if Tony Fernando says that Jarno will be re-signed for 2012, the line-up change acted as a warning to drive quick enough or be relegated to the sidelines.
There’s also some scintillating battles to watch out for in the midfield. After Adrian Sutil’s noteworthy drive to sixth in his home race, Force India has jumped up and now lies 15 points behind their desired sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship, which is currently held by Sauber.
That puts Toro Rosso down to eighth and Franz Tost is now seemingly left with a more difficult proposition when it comes to selecting which driver to dump for next year. Jaime Alguersuari’s three-race run to points may be over, but Sébastien Buemi’s block on Nick Heidfeld – causing a puncture to his own car for the second time in as many weeks – won’t have impressed anyone.
Okay, back to the front. The general sense one gets is that Ferrari and McLaren really are closing on Red Bull now (pace-wise, that is). Hungary will be the real test, though. Firstly, will McLaren be able to perform as well in hotter conditions as on the cool afternoon in Germany? I fear they won’t, but it will be refreshing for the title race if they can.
We now know that Ferrari’s updates of Silverstone did indeed work, as the engine mapping situation which disadvantaged Red Bull was no longer a factor in Germany; so Alonso should be able to win on merit, even if he does have to work hard for it. Then again, if Vettel finishes second, that simply isn’t good enough for Fernando.
The summer’s coming. And the clock is ticking.
At a glance:
- Hungaroring pole position winners
- Hungaroring Grand Prix winners
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GPUpdate.net Fast Facts: Hungaroring
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Laps: 70
Direction: Clockwise
Corners: 14
Length: 4.381km / 2.722mi
Lap record: 1:19.071 / M. Schumacher / Ferrari / 2004
Local start time: 2pm (BST +1)
Slick Pirelli tyre compounds:
Super Soft (red markings) & Soft (yellow markings)
DRS zone:
Detection: Entry to Turn 14, final corner
Activation: Start / finish straight
FIA driver steward:
Allan McNish
2010 pole position winner:
Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull-Renault
2010 Grand Prix winner:
Mark Webber – Red Bull-Renault
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Circuit changes for 2011
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- Gravel traps replaced with asphalt run-off and new kerbs in place at Turns 3, 8 and 9
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Race preview from GPUpdate.net’s Gregory Haines
Twitter: @GregoryHainesF1
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