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POSSIBLE RACE STRATEGIES
The 70-lap Hungarian Grand Prix is finely balanced between a one-stop and a
two-stop strategy, with both approaches valid for the race, but a
two-stopper being on paper quickest.
A lot will depend on two factors: starting tyres and temperatures. Those
starting on the P Zero Red soft C4 tyre could favour a two-stopper, with a
number of potential options involving a switch to the P Zero Yellow medium
C3 tyre for the last two stints or possibly even a final run on the soft
tyre at the end of the race – especially if there is scope to score an extra
championship point for fastest lap. Using all three compounds is another
viable possibility.
However, with the notorious difficulty of overtaking at the Hungaroring,
track position is key; so this could encourage more drivers towards a
one-stopper. Those starting on the medium tyre can definitely make that
strategy work, by switching to the P Zero White hard C2 tyre for the
remainder of the race. But soft to hard is also possible, although slower.
The weather will probably be the deciding factor. Up to now, there have been
record track temperatures, and the predicted rain has so far failed to
materialise substantially. |
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FOCUS ON:
* Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton claimed his 101st career pole ahead of his
team mate Valtteri Bottas. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was fastest in the
first two qualifying sessions, before Hamilton sealed pole by going quickest
of all in the decisive Q3 session.
* Following the record-breaking temperatures on Friday, qualifying was once
again run in very warm conditions: 31 degrees ambient and 54 degrees on
track at the start of the hour.
* Both Mercedes and Red Bull started on the P Zero Yellow medium tyres
during the crucial Q2 session, but just the two Mercedes set their fastest
times on this compound – meaning that they will be the only cars in the top
10 to begin the grand prix on the yellow medium C3 tyre, from first and
second. Red Bull went for a different strategy, improving with the soft.
* The Q2 session was interrupted with around five minutes left to go
following an accident for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. This meant that there
was a rush to set the final Q2 times right at the end of the session, with
the track rapidly evolving.
MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF F1 AND CAR RACING
“Today’s track temperatures in qualifying were only a little bit cooler than
yesterday. As a result, although the soft tyre retained a significant speed
advantage of nearly a second over one lap, preparing the flying lap
carefully was important to avoid overheating. The drivers starting on the
medium tyre have more flexibility, which could bring them a benefit, but a
two-stopper is slightly quicker than a one-stopper on paper, which means
that the drivers who start on the soft have every possibility of doing
something different – with a wide range of tactical options available.
Mercedes and Red Bull have taken a very different approach, so it’s going to
be fascinating to see how that battle develops from the first and second
rows of the grid.” |
