Mercedes have all the time gone properly on the Hungaroring however their efficiency in Sunday’s race will probably be a revealing take a look at of the progress they’ve made with their W15.
In the meantime Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez head into this weekend’s race hoping for a change in fortunes and extra motion within the driver marketplace for 2025 is predicted. Listed here are the speaking factors for the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
Mercedes’ actual take a look at?
All of the sudden, Mercedes are again. The Brackley staff received the final two races in a row and seem to have thrust themselves among the many championship contenders.
However have they really addressed all of the W15’s weaknesses? Their best drawback previous to final weekend was their efficiency over a race stint and it stays to be seen whether or not they have addressed that.
“Hungary might be… the take a look at of whether or not or not we’ve got bought on prime of our long-run efficiency in scorching circumstances, as a result of in Barcelona and in Austria, we couldn’t match Lando or Max on the long term,” the staff’s trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin informed the official F1 channel. “Each these two automobiles have been properly forward of us.
“We hopefully may have made a little bit of progress. In the event you take a look at the dimensions of the hole at these two earlier races, I’d be shocked if we are able to pull it in that considerably. However then once more, we you recognize, we shocked ourselves with the primary stint in Silverstone.”
Mercedes have good type on the Hungaroring, nevertheless. Regardless of their struggles for the reason that present technical laws have been launched, they claimed pole place for each the final two races at this observe, which have been their solely poles from typical qualifying periods throughout these seasons.
Then there’s the Hamilton issue. Along with his confidence re-fired after ending a two-and-a-half 12 months shedding streak, he now heads to a observe the place he has all the time excelled.
“I like Hungary,” he mentioned after his Silverstone win. “So I undoubtedly am actually wanting ahead to that, to go in there. The trajectory we’re on and the actual fact the automotive is beginning to actually come alive and really feel nice, now I can begin to compete is a superb feeling.”
Will Leclerc’s “nightmare” proceed?
Charles Leclerc might have ended his ‘Monaco curse’, however little has gone proper for him within the 4 races since then. Energy unit hassle in Montreal, entrance wing injury in Spielberg, duff technique at Silverstone.
However underlying all that has been Ferrari’s improvement mis-step which has price them their place as closest challenger to Crimson Bull. McLaren and Mercedes have displaced them on the sharp finish and till Ferrari discover their manner once more their drivers can neglect about difficult for victories.
The staff is predicted to threat working its new flooring on the Hungaroring and tolerate the bouncing they’re prone to encounter in its two quickest corners. That will give them a greater probability to be aggressive, however whether or not Leclerc’s luck will flip is one other matter.
Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and
Perez can’t afford one other zero
Sergio Perez’s underperformance has been a theme for a number of rounds. What’s totally different now’s that Crimson Bull have put him on discover. Christian Horner described the state of affairs as “unsustainable” after the British Grand Prix.
Up to now half-dozen races Perez has contributed simply 15 factors to Crimson Bull’s complete. That’s lower than Nico Hulkenberg has scored for Haas within the final two rounds alone.
The following two races may very well be Perez’s final probability to influence Crimson Bull to not drop him over the summer season break. Qualifying has been a persistent weak point for Perez and he can unwell afford one other exit earlier than Q3.
At Silverstone he pinned his hopes on getting the identical specification flooring as Verstappen, which Perez indicated was value a tenth of a second or extra. However he seemingly wants greater than that to get shut sufficient to Verstappen. Final 12 months he completed 37 seconds behind his staff mate, although that was ok for third place when Crimson Bull have been dominating with the RB19.
In the meantime, these eyeing the possibility to take his place have a transparent alternative to place their title prime of Horner’s record. Now’s absolutely the time for the 2 RB drivers to shine. Yuki Tsunoda has led the way in which to this point whereas Daniel Ricciardo, who returned to F1 a 12 months in the past at this spherical, has blown cold and warm since then.
Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and
Are Alpine turning issues round?
Alpine’s involvement within the final Hungarian Grand Prix didn’t final lengthy. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have been skittled out on the first nook by Zhou Guanyu. Coming off the again of one other double retirement at Silverstone, the Alpine management took the drastic step of overhauling its administration.
Staff principal Otmar Szafnauer was proven the door, long-serving sporting director Alan Permane joined him, and chief technical officer Pat Fry headed for Williams. Within the 12 months since many others have adopted as Bruno Famin put in himself in cost and shook up the technical division.
For all that, having been sixth within the championship with 47 factors on the midway stage final 12 months, they’ve simply 9 factors at the moment and have fallen to eighth within the standings. Worse, ninth-place Williams moved nearer to them on the final spherical. Sobering figures for to Carlos Sainz Jnr mirror on because the staff makes its bid for his providers.
Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and
Final-minute market strikes
Sainz isn’t the one driver making his thoughts up about his future. With the summer season break approaching quick and plenty of vacancies remaining for the 2025 F1 season, extra offers might fall into place over the approaching days.
Ocon, who confirmed his departure from Alpine a number of weeks in the past, is rumoured to be contemplating a transfer to Haas, the place he would type an all-new line-up with Oliver Bearman subsequent 12 months. That would depart Kevin Magnussen with no seat for subsequent season.
New-look Hungaroring
Whereas the observe is unchanged, the Hungaroring has a contemporary new search for its thirty ninth Hungarian Grand Prix. The race promoters have constructed a brand new paddock protecting 8,000 sq. metres.
Are you going to the Hungarian Grand Prix?
In the event you’re heading to Hungary for this weekend’s race, we need to hear from you:
Who do you suppose would be the staff to beat within the Hungarian Grand Prix? Have your say under.
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a day by day e-mail with all our newest tales – and nothing else. No advertising, no adverts. Enroll right here:
