Hungarian GP: Race preview
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Race Preview |
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2012 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
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Just one week after Fernando Alonso’s superb victory at the German Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver will resume his quest to land a third Formula One Drivers’ World Championship title at the Hungaroring, the scene of his first grand prix victory. The Hungarian Grand Prix has been on the F1 calendar since 1986 and the tight and twisting confines of the track present teams with a challenge similar to that encountered in Monaco – how to maximise high-downforce performance. With 14 corners and just one real straight, teams will be aiming for high levels of aerodynamic grip but will also be looking for optimum levels of mechanical grip. Hence, Pirelli will bring its Medium and Soft tyres to Hungary. However, finding good grip here isn’t easy. The circuit is used infrequently and as such grip levels are always low at the start of the weekend. The evolving nature of the track makes finding the perfect set-up difficult. The weather also plays its part. Hungary can be punishingly hot in midsummer and the high temperatures mean tyre degradation and wear rates can be a factor. The Soft tyre will extract maximum grip but it could the durability of the Medium that decides the outcome. As mentioned, the Hungaroring holds good memories for Fernando Alonso, but a number of title contenders will be hoping to colour the Ferrari driver’s perception of the circuit. In the title race, Alonso may be 34 points ahead of Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber and a further 10 clear of defending champion Sebastian Vettel but a single mistake through any of the circuit’s snaking turns could see that lead eroded in an instant. For the championship leader it will simply be a case of recapturing past glories and if he can do that he will go into F1’s traditional post-Hungary break with a commanding championship lead. It should be a fascinating race. |
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Hungaroring
70 100km/h during qualifying and race ►The track has been resurfaced around Turn 14.
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Hungarian GP Fast Facts |
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► The Hungaroring has been a feature of the F1 calendar since 1986, meaning that this will be the 27th edition of the race. ► Michael Schumacher has won the race more times than any other driver, with four wins to his credit, one ahead of Ayrton Senna. ► Despite the lack of overtaking opportunities at the Hungaroring, pole position does not guarantee a win,at least not lately. Since 2005 there’s been just one winner from pole (Lewis Hamilton in 2007). Conversely, in the five years before the ’05 race, the race was won from pole four times (the only exception was 2000 when Mika Hakkinen won from third on the grid). ► Jenson Button’s win from 14th on the grid in the rain-hit 2006 race represents the biggest gap between starting position and the top of the podium. Button is followed in that regard by compatriot Nigel Mansell, who scored victory from 12th on the grid in 1989. The Ferrari driver powered his way through the field in the race after complaining of being hindered by traffic in qualifying. |
► The wet race of 2006 also saw Pedro de la Rosa record the only podium finish of his career to date. Racing for McLaren in place of Juan Pablo Montoya, the Spaniard drove a well-judged race from fourth on the grid to finish second. His next best finish is fifth, a placing he’s managed four times so far (Italy ’01, Bahrain ’05, and Turkey and China in 2006). |
► The Hungaroring was the scene of Thierry Boutsen’s final F1 win, although it wasn’t exactly memorable for thrills and spills. Boutsen grabbed the only pole of his career and despite having a slower car managed to make it as wide as possible and kept Ayrton Senna at bay for 77 laps. Boutsen’s previous wins had come in Canada and Australia in 1989. |
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Hungarian GP Race Stewards Biographies |
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DANNY SULLIVAN FORMER F1 DRIVER, INDIANAPOLIS 500 WINNER AND CART INDY CAR CHAMPION |
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| US racer Danny Sullivan made his Formula One debut with Tyrrell at the 1983 Brazilian Grand Prix. He raced just one season in F1, scoring a best result of fifth at the Monaco Grand Prix. In 1984, Sullivan returned to the US where he resumed a successful Indy Car career. He is perhaps best known for his ‘spin and win’ victory at the 1985 Indianapolis 500, where he passed leader Mario Andretti, survived a 360 degree spin, and then caught and re-passed Andretti to claim the Borg-Warner Trophy. He won the Indy Car World Series title in 1988. After 17 victories from 170 Indy Car starts he drew a line under his open-wheel career in 1995. He finished third in the Le Mans 24 Hours in a Dauer Porsche 962 in 1994. He made four starts at Le Mans, the most recent being 2004, a year he also competed in the European Le Mans Series and ALMS. | ||
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DR GERD ENNSER MEMBER OF THE DMSB’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR AUTOMOBILE SPORT; FORMULA ONE AND DTM STEWARD |
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| Dr Gerd Ennser has successfully combined his formal education in law with his passion for motor racing, to become a motor sport official. He began helping manage a local motor sport club while still active as a racing driver and since 2006 he has been a permanent steward at every round of Germany’s DTM series. Since last year he has also worked as a Formula One steward at Grands Prix. Dr Ennser, who has worked as a judge, a prosecutor and in the legal department of an automotive-industry company, has also been a member of the steering committee of German motor sport body, the DMSB, since spring 2010, where he is responsible for automobile sport. In addition, Dr Ennser is a board member of the South Bavaria Section of Germany’s biggest auto club, the ADAC. | ||
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RADOVAN NOVAK SEC. GENERAL OF THE ACCR (AUTOCLUB OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC); WORLD MOTOR SPORT COUNCIL MEMBER |
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| Radovan Novak has been actively involved in motorsport since 1963 and rose to become Secretary General of the ACCR in 1990. Since 1991 he has held the role of President of the FIA Central Europe Zone and over the past two decades he has acted as a steward and observer in WRC and ERC rallies, EC autocross and rallycross events and WTCC and GT races. He has been a Formula One steward since 1994. From 1994 to 2006, he was a member of the FIA Off-road Commission and was made a member of the World Motor Sport Council in 1998. In 2000 he became a member of the Sport Commission at the Ministry of Sport of the Czech Republic. An avid racer and co-driver, Radovan Novak has won a number of Czech rallying events. | ||
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Hungarian GP Championship Standings (Drivers) |
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Hungarian GP Championship Standings (Constructors) |
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Hungarian GP |
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THURSDAY |
15.00 10.00-11.30 14.00-15.30 16.00 11.00-12.00 14.00-15.00 12.30 14.00 |
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| ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES | ||
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