McLaren expect strong Hungaroring result (Hungarian Grand Prix preview)
Another first-time winner - last year it was Kovalainen
If the first half of the championship was about the domination of Brawn, the second half will be about whether Red Bull can catch them.
The Hungarian Grand Prix will be the perfect test of Red Bull’s improved RB5. The slow track and warm temperatures should favour the BGP 001, so if Red Bull can take points off their rivals here, we’re in for a closely-fought championship.
And that’s before we consider the other teams that could get in the mix this weekend.
The German Grand Prix didn’t resolve all of our questions about the balance of power between the championship-leading teams. Conditions were cool once again, playing into Red Bull’s hands and probably the reason why Brawn found themselves behind the likes of Ferrari.
But there’s no doubting Adrian Newey’s revised RB5, which arrived at Silverstone, has brilliantly married the double diffuser concept the team lacked at the start of the season, to its unconventional pullrod suspension. This has made Red Bull’s car potentially the quickest in F1 today, and the teams which have now said they are putting all their efforts into 2010 (Ferrari, McLaren) are likely to be taking their inspiration from it.
Big upgrade for Toro Rosso
Red Bull’s performance has been conspicuously at odds with sister team Toro Rosso’s. We will learn how much of that is down to the difference between teams, drivers, engines and technology this weekend – for two reasons.
The STR4s are due to get a substantialy update including many of the Silverstone-spec parts the RB5 had. And the team is dropping Sebastien Bourdais for persons-as-yet-unknown.
It’s not likely to be enough to allow Toro Rosso to take points off Brawn and help Red Bull’s championship situation. But expect changes to the pecking order in qualifying, and Sebastien Buemi and his new team mate to be chasing for points in the race. Force India’s days of making it into Q2 may be numbered.
McLaren’s best chance
Another of the great unresolved questions at the Nurburgring was how fast the updated McLaren is. Only Lewis Hamilton had the revised floor on his MP4/24, and that was damaged following contact with Mark Webber on the way to the first corner.
The slow Hungaroring already offered McLaren’s un-aerodynamic car one of its better chances of scoring this year (along with Monte-Carlo and Singapore). But having locked out row three of the grid in Germany on realistic fuel loads they may be hoping for even more this weekend with both cars brought up to the new specification.
Their hopes will rest partly on how useful KERS is at the Hungaroring. Despite Hermann Tilke’s revisions in 2003 there’s still only one realistic place for overtaking at the Hungarian circuit – the long run to turn one. A judicious prod of the KERS button on the way out of the final corner should make the McLarens (and Ferraris) un-passable outside of the pit stops. They will be as dangerous as ever off the start line as well.
And that could add up to a nightmare scenario for whichever of the Brawns or Red Bulls makes the worst start.
Ones to watch
Lewis Hamilton – Blew McLaren’s best chance of big points at Monte-Carlo with a crash in qualifying, and was unlucky to get eliminated at the Nurburgring as he was making a bid for lead. Can he even get on the podium?
Sebastian Vettel – Jenson Button’s closest championship rival, but beaten by his team mate in four of the last five races. Can he re-assert superiority over team mate Mark Webber?
Toro Rosso No. 11 – Jaime Alguersuari? Sebastien Loeb? Ari Vatanen? Who will turn up in the second Toro Rosso?
Who do you expect to be on form at the Hungaroring? Have your say below.
StrFerrari4Ever said on 20th July 2009, 16:52
Oh i’ve been anticipating this race since I heard about the news of STR getting the Silverstone upgrade whether it will get them in Q3 is another matter but makes their chances better lets hope they can be in the top 6 even though other teams like the Manufacturers are continuously developing at an eye-opening rate. Brawn are due an update at this race I believe I hope it doesn’t mean they can get ahead of Red Bull as I want the Bull’s to close on Brawn and take the fight to them more but hopefully STR can just put a spanner in the works and hault one of the Brawns or even both of them.
Alonso will be one to watch I believe at this track his always gone well and the R29 seems to be improving so he should be interesting , Mclaren will have a strong race if they can get ahead of Brawns in qualifying then we will be in for a cracking race believe you me!
Oh and welcome aboard Jamie points on debut anyone? :D
HounslowBusGarage said on 21st July 2009, 21:03
Has he actually driven an F1 car yet?
patrickl said on 22nd July 2009, 14:25
I think he did a shakedown of the cars that were sent to Hungary.
F1Fan said on 20th July 2009, 17:33
RBR was faster than Brawn in the slower sector-3 at Silverstone, granted in cool weather. And then they were again faster by as much as half a second at the Ring which is a fairly slow circuit. I think the Brawns will be much closer to RBR in Budapest, especacially w/ temperatures in the 30s (C), but I just think RBR is on such a roll now their drivers’ confidence is bery high, and in Budapest, in the worst case, their car will be as fast as the Brawn. I think this is Vettel’s race to lose.
David said on 20th July 2009, 17:45
It’s true, this season may have a more interesting finale than it seemed a couiple of races ago if one or two of the Ferrari and McLaren drivers, and Alonso, can knick a podium place or two. Seeing Red Bull slowly catch up Brawn would have been fairly tedious, but there’s now a chance of a great drive from Alonso, Massa or Hamilton, say, skewering the chances of either Brawn or Red Bull. The same in qualifying.
wasiF1 said on 21st July 2009, 2:04
On Hungary we will learn whether Brawn are struggling or Red Bull had found out the horns to knock out Button.
Jay Menon said on 21st July 2009, 3:41
I would like to think Alonso would do well come the weekend, but I’m still not sold on the Renault’s speed, I would be if they can produce it again in Budapest.
Mclaren has a good shot on Sunday, I think Kovi will bring it home in the points, as for Lewis, if he doesn’t throw it away, a podium is likely. It should be a close rung thing between the Brawns (if its hot) and the Red Bulls. It will be even tighter between Seb and Mark.
It would have been nice to Seb Loeb in the Toro Rosso No. 11!!
Simon said on 21st July 2009, 13:53
Delete Red Bull and insert Brawn (honeymoon period)
Betpusher said on 24th July 2009, 1:38
Hi all,
As the post says, this will be the most important GP of the year to understand how much Red Bulls have improved. It’s sure the Brawn will be fast again but, and Bulls too but.. Newey’s car is more aggressive on the supersoft compound. In Austalia, Monaco, Bahrain, they suffered the softer one. Nothing says us they have overcome the problem.. Hungaroring will do…