Grand Prix 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

For the 32nd time in a row the F1 circus rolls into Mogyorod just outside Budapest for another race at the Hungaroring. 11 out of the last 13 F1 world champions have won a race in Hungary making it a badge of honour. The two that never won at Hungary by the way are Nico Rosberg and Alain Prost. The circuit now has to be regarded as an F1 Classic and unlike Silverstone and Monza there never seems to be any talk of it dropping off the calendar. This suggests to me they have a pretty dam good contract. I don’t even know who backs it but I don’t see it making more money that Silverstone so I can only conclude they are paying cheap rates.

In recent times the race has thrown up unpredictable results and actually was voted CTA race of the year 3 times in a row from 2013 to 2015. The track itself was resurface in 2016 and is no longer the dust bowl it used to be. The new tarmac made it much faster last year and with the new cars I imagine it’ll be off the charts this season. The twisting turning nature of the track means that a lack of engine power is no longer the disadvantage it usually is. This should catapult Red Bull into the mix for the win and Mclaren into the upper midfield battle. This can only be good for us watching. Verstappen has a point to prove and will be praying his car holds out on him whilst Ricciardo is in the form of his life at the moment as seen by his charge back through the field at Silverstone. The Mclaren drivers are also on form, Alonso always comes to life when he knows the cameras are on him and Vandorne had his best performance of the season last time out.

The main focus will of course be on the title challenge with just 1 point now between Hamilton and Vettel. If you look at the past performances here you’d say Hamilton’s was a mixed bagged compared to his results elsewhere but it eclipses Vettel’s easily who has not done well here in the past. The other title contender is of course Bottas who has shown a ton of speed of late and really has nothing to lose. Any ideas Hamilton has about using Bottas as a number 2 will have to wait until later in the season. Which of course brings us to Kimi Raikonnen who will once again be playing Vettel’s wingman. I don’t expect Kimi to go well here and imagine a lot of complaints about grip coming over the radio.

Hungary is always the last race before the Summer Holidays (Or if you’re Lewis Hamilton you call it ‘Yet more Holidays’) so has an end of term feeling about it. Apparently the drivers are allowed to bring toys and board games in, whilst Charlie Whiting wheels a big TV into the safety briefing so they can all watch Flight of the Navigator as a treat. Consequently there is always a bit of rough and tumble in the field. I expect Ocon and Perez to be on exactly the same piece of track again and both of them to get very passive aggressive about it. The Sauber pairing might go from hitting each other on the track(3 races in a row) to hitting each other off it (My moneys on Ericsson in a fight), whilst gethinceri's favourite driver Kvyat will probably torpedo most of the field off the first corner. Williams will probably disappear into insignificance, Grosjean will moan about the brakes and Carlos Sainz will sigh heavily. The drivers will be united though when they present Jolyon Palmer with a leaving cake that says on it “Thanks for coming” in frosted icing.

I always enjoy this race and I just have a sneaky feeling about a Danny Ric win. Having said that we all know how wrong my predictions can be.
 
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woah that's gone quickly Maxs 1st 50 gps FB . & very eventful at that. trying to think of others that have had as eventful 50gps in a good way like max had, as im thinking Schumacher maybe senna.

i read about palmer have abit of moan at kerbs after it damaged his new floor & ripped the front wing off but like i said about magnussen in Austria when he many were complaining. stay off the kerb shouldnt be going all 4 wheels over white line & at times all 4 wheels over the kerb

looks like it will musical chairs at sky sports if Di Resta is becoming super sub after ted kravitz brilliant spot at Williams with 10mins of FP3 Remaining. cant blame massa, its why football managers never ask players. if theyre fit to play before a derby or cup final as they could be violently ill or barely walk & they will always say yes
 
[correction]

First Ferrari 1-2 in qualifying since Sochi. OK. let's see if they are ready to win a race
 
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Ideal Lap (sum best sectors) in the Qual:
Qual – No – Driver – Qual Result – Ideal Lap – Flaw
1 - 5 - S.Vettel - 01:16,276 - 01:16,104 - 00,172
2 - 7 - K.Raikkonen - 01:16,444 - 01:16,342 - 00,102
3 - 77 - V.Bottas - 01:16,530 - 01:16,417 - 00,113
4 - 44 - L.Hamilton - 01:16,707 - 01:16,511 - 00,196
5 - 33 - M.Verstappen - 01:16,797 - 01:16,653 - 00,144
6 - 3 - D.Ricciardo - 01:16,818 - 01:16,765 - 00,053
7 - 27 - N.Hulkenberg - 01:17,468 - 01:17,393 - 00,075
8 - 14 - F.Alonso - 01:17,549 - 01:17,396 - 00,153
9 - 2 - S.Vandoorne - 01:17,894 - 01:17,827 - 00,067
10 - 55 - C.Sainz - 01:18,912 - 01:18,311 - 00,601
 
I know most people think Paul Di Resta is as popular as a punch in the happy sacks but we've got to give the guy some credit.

He hasn't driven an F1 car for over 3 years and never driven a 2017 version. At almost no notice he jumps in and doesn't look out of place on the grid. Fair play to the bloke.
 
cider_and_toast It was just a pity that it was Hungaroring that he gets his super sub chance

I just wonder what would have happened say he outqualified Lance Stroll which might have raised a few eyebrows
 
I know most people think Paul Di Resta is as popular as a punch in the happy sacks but we've got to give the guy some credit.

He hasn't driven an F1 car for over 3 years and never driven a 2017 version. At almost no notice he jumps in and doesn't look out of place on the grid. Fair play to the bloke.
As much as I like making fun of him and his comments at times; he performed very well and I hope he finishes tomorrows race.
 
fair play to Vettel & Ferrari they were absoultely hooked up today. you always just have handing to them as they were too good. unbelieveable time i fancy some to get a jump on 1 of the ferrari into more likely into t2. but should be expected as this was always 1 of Mercedes worst circuits & i was highly impressed with Di Resta. in 1 18 min session he had to fit in the work of 2 preseason tests & a whole weekend of Practise. get used to the car, get seating position comfortable & be competive. so to be only 7 tenths off with massa setup is very impressive

also i think earlier during qualifying how quick the 2017 cars. because everyone usually admits 2004 cars were the peak of f1 performance in recent years because after that, huge downforce V10 engines, new engine every weekend & a tyre war. yet a car always on list of the greatest F1 cars ever built the ferrari F2004. wouldve qualified 18th today beaten by both magunessen & stroll
 
You know Di Resta might suddenly throw himself an F1 lifeline and remind Williams I deserve to be promoted to race seat if he does a stellar job tomorrow

Surprised the Ferrari's were the quickest but it should be interesting to see tomorrow .. the start is crucial and the Red Bulls get a flyer especially Verstappen then they could make things interesting

It appears Mercedes are going to struggle given the nature of the track so this could be damage limitation for both drivers who are not expecting team orders to interfere withthhh
 
Pffftt to Di Resta. But yes he did a good job (I will say though that if Stroll had not been blocked by Kvyat on his flying lap the gap would have been bigger).

So F1's new slogan appears to be "There can be only 1". Are we suddenly in Highlander now? Is the Scottish accent why Di Resta is back. What's all that about?
 
Lewis acted not only correct but also beautiful
He could of course to try to pass the Ferrari before the finish line,
but the fact what he did means great more
 
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Good job by the Ferrari boys. Fair play by Hamilton and somehow Alonso avances to 6. i bet Riccardo's smile was wiped off his face today.
 
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