Last race before the summer brake at the Hungaro Ring. Always have been a sort of summer holiday race, with people all over Europe watching the GP combined with a visit to Budapest and this year the polish are coming to watch their hero.
Track is slowest, real circuit, track on the calendar and downforce is king, so should be Mercedes based on Monaco form and their ability to fight back after huge disappointments. Only question mark is RBR that since that race improved a lot, but feel Mercedes still has the overall best car, so let''s hope the gap isn't as big as in Monaco. Cannot see the Ferrari winning, as their main problem is not enough downforce.
Track:
Tire selection:
Last Year:
FP1 - Ricciardo - 1.17.613
FP2 - Vettel - 1.16.834
FP3 - Vettel - 1.16.170
Qualify - Hamilton - 1.35.658
Race - Hamilton - 1u37min16.427
Fastest Lap - Ricciardo - 1.20.012
Mercedes dominant in FP1, Lewis time 1st run/2nd switched to mediums, but problems with Bottas his engine (damaged) and he had to switch engine so no running. Max complaining of lack of grip on corner entry, two spins and Ferrari loosing to much in S3 to be competitive right now.. Sainz also had engine problem and had to switch to newer one for FP2.
Max spins:
and oopsy at TR:
And for those that were surprised with last weeks Leclerc/Ferrari team fine penalty, it is gone again.
FIA agrees to impose time penalties for unsafe releases
FP2 interrupted session, first red flag Albon error than started to drizzle. Gasly was on the softs, Max mediums with traffic in S2 and Lewis on the hards probably best lap tire corrected. Bottas no running in FP1 was still finding time and Ferrari's were miles of in S3 and also few tenths in S2, so they have some work to do.
Most impressive lap was Max on Inters, out lap S2/S3 already fastest and his 1st and only lap was 3 secs faster than both Ferrari's who already had done multiple laps and only Bottas went faster after few laps 20 min later.
Some of midfield ran their 2nd run on reds others on med/hard, so hard to call that one after FP2, but wild guess close (Ren/Haas/Alfa).
Close and fun two see how two different philosophies end up pretty close. Ferrari still king in S1, but loose to much, specially in the slow S3. Max in his fast lap messed up S1 (2 tenths), but quickest in S2 and Lewis no perfect S1, loose a bit in S2, but slow corner performance means Lewis best S3. Feel that Mercedes gains most from FP3 to Q compared to Fer/RBR, so expect Lewis to be favorite for pole, but cannot afford errors because Max looks close to the Mercedes.
Midfield close other than Lando, who has been in a class of his own compared to the rest of the midfield. Did not expect McLaren to be this competitive around a high downforce track.
George fucking Russel, faster than Perez and DannyRic, what a q session, just 53hundreds of Grosjean
DannyRic :(
DannyRic :(
By Spengo Go To PostAmateur hour from Riciardostupid move cost him, should have backed off:
Gasly just through on the meds, that's an improvement and that 1st sector of Max, could mean he has a chance, although Merc is now opening up their party mode
No Renault top 10 and Kevin/Gio and both Toro Rosso's out
No Renault top 10 and Kevin/Gio and both Toro Rosso's out
Bottas in front of Lewis, Ghostly 9 tenths of Max and Leclerc few hundreds in front of Vettel for p4
Sainz ran it it close, but Norris best of the rest, did not expect McLaren to be fast on such a track and well done.
And George fucking Russel, give the men a better car Toto
Honda are legit then? (Even though it is not a power circuit)
By Punished Go To PostGreat to see. Bravo for improving on the second run too.Feel that RBR still has to run slightly smaller rearwing, but unless last year were they still were behind in top speeds, they now can match the Mercedes in the straights, Ferrari still on top
Honda are legit then?
Full sesion results:
Final minutes/last runs
Max:
Fastest mini sectors (q3 both runs) from the top teams, good way to see their strength and weakness
and boys Renault said it had 1000hp, what do you guys think ?
and boys Renault said it had 1000hp, what do you guys think ?
Danny Ric punching the air rn
By markao Go To PostFastest mini sectors (q3 both runs) from the top teams, good way to see their strength and weaknessFerrari literally imploding in the corners.
Johnny Herbert has a bit if a death wish today. Burning himself and nearly getting run over by a Mclaren being pushed into place.
lol @ the Anthony Mackie grid interview
Do you like cars?
Yes.
Racing?
Yes.
New Captain America out soon?
Filming this year. Out next.
By Punished Go To Postlol @ the Anthony Mackie grid interview
That was hilarious.
He was clearly ignoring Martin.
By Shanks D Zoro Go To PostGonna be a very hard day for Ferrari.They only have to use their superior battery power to get in front of Lewis, to make the WDC more exiting ;) and then ffter the summer they can go for wins again in Spa/Monza.
Start should be fun with long drive to first and wide corner and normally the Mercs slightly faster than RBR and Ferrari slightly better than Mercs in the second phase of the starts. Would not be to surprised if they all don't get through the first 3 corners in one piece.
By markao Go To PostThey only have to use their superior battery power to get in front of Lewis, to make the WDC more exiting ;) and then ffter the summer they can go for wins again in Spa/Monza.
Start should be fun with long drive to first and wide corner and normally the Mercs slightly faster than RBR and Ferrari slightly better than Mercs in the second phase of the starts. Would not be to surprised if they all don't get through the first 3 corners in one piece.
Got to hope so.
Will be interesting to see if Charles does and if he can handle the pressure of having Lewis on him.
Lewis has a bit more pace, not sure if it is enough to pass, but maybe close in and than undercut?
Albon/Kvyatt
Albon/Kvyatt