Track: Hungaroring, Budapest
Lap count: 70
Race start: 2000 hrs SIN
The narrow, tortuous layout of the Hungaroring makes overtaking
difficult, and it is compunded by the dust that settles on the
tarmac from the lack of use. However it has seen its fair share of
exciting races. Unseasonal rain in 2006 paved the way for Jenson
Button's maiden win for Honda. More recently, last year's race saw
the feud between Fernando Alonso, Ron Dennis and Lewis Hamilton
come to a head. The latter won the race after Alonso was demoted on
the grid for impeding his teammate during qualifying.
Maximum downforce is utilised at this track to get the most grip
on the slippery tarmac and through the many slow corners. Graining
on the tyres is a significant issue, however, and it compromises
the rear-end grip especially. A revision in 2003 tightened the
hairpin at the end of the pit straight, but it has not improved
overtaking significantly.
Hamilton goes into this weekend with a 4-point margin over
Felipe Massa after his crushing victory in Hockenheim. Ferrari and
Honda are among the teams that have brought in aero upgrades in a
bid to catch up, so stay tuned for the last race before the summer
break!
