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Race Name: Hungarian Grand Prix
Circuit Name: Hungaroring, Budapest
Circuit Length: 2.465 miles / 3.9440km
Race Length: 189.805 miles / 305.586km 77 laps
Lap Record: Juan Pablo Montoya 1'22''095

Fernando Alonso's View

"I am feeling confident. We were fast in Hungary last year. We have been fast with maximum downforce already this season in Monaco so I hope we can have a good race and maybe be in with a chance to win."

Kimi Raikkonen's View

"As you cross the start-finish line at the Hungaroring, you reach some 181mph / 290km/h in seventh gear as you power along the extended approach to turn one. As the downhill right-hander, which has been re-profiled, swings you round 180-degrees, your speed drops to 75mph / 120km/h, as you deal with understeer and a strange camber. On the power as you exit, you reach 140mph / 225km/h in fourth gear along the short straight that leads to turn two, a long second gear left hander that is negotiated at 50mph / 80km/h. The sweeping right of turn three follows immediately, which sees your speed increase to some 140mph / 225km/h and takes you onto the back straight. Powering up through the gears to some 178mph / 285km/h in seventh, you dab the brakes as you enter the fast, left-hander of turn four. Changing down into fourth gear, it is taken at 125mph / 200km/h. You then climb uphill, reaching some 135mph / 217km/h, still in fourth, on the approach to turn five. This long, bumpy right hander is taken at 85mph / 128km/h in third gear. You push hard on the throttle along the Short straight that leads to the right-left chicane of turns six and seven, which is negotiated at 56mph / 90km/h in second. The chicane leads you to turn eight, a third gear left hander, taken at 80mph / 128km/h, which itself is immediately followed by the right flick of turn nine. It is important to maintain your speed through the corner as you accelerate out through the slight left kink of turn ten, reaching 140mph / 225km/h in fifth gear. Then softly on the brakes for turn eleven. The track tightens as you drive through the right hander, which is taken at 112mph / 180km/h. A short burst on the throttle takes you to the revised 90-degrees right of turn twelve. You brake from 147mph / 235km/h to below 100mph / 160km/h. On the approach to turn thirteen, you reach 135mph / 217km/h in fourth before braking hard for the left-hander hairpin, which is taken at 50mph / 80km/h in second. The final right-hander is negotiated at 84mph / 136km/h in third gear And takes you back onto the start-finish straight."

The Track

The Hungarian Grand Prix Track (called the Hungaroring) is about 20 miles outside Budapest is hot, dry and dusty and is also very tight and twisty. It is also rarely used so the track becomes cleaner as rubber is laid down through the weekend. Famously described by Martin Brundle as being "Monaco without the walls" it is very very difficult to pass on. I was at the race in 1990 when Thiery Boutsen managed to win in the Williams by keeping Senna behind him for the entire race. The best place to pass is the end of the pit straight going into turn 1 (the turns are numbered on this track rather than named).

The Hungaroring is well known for throwing up surprise results.

In 1989 Mansell pulled off one of the most spectacular overtaking moves of his career to take Senna and score a surprise win in the canine Ferrari 641. Mansell also managed to pressure Senna in 1988 in the underpowered Williams FW12. Straightline speed is less important than good handling and a "torquey" engine.

The teams all try to get as much downforce as possible which is why the Jordan and BAR teams have tried to revert to using a third wing (as was used by McLaren in 95 and Jordan and McLaren in 96). The teams will arrive at Hungary having had an enforced three week ban from testing (apart from a 50km car shakedown that each team has been allowed to perform).

The Hungaroring is a modern facility, built with Formula One in mind. It hosted its first Grand Prix in 1986 but has come in for much criticism from drivers and observers alike for not providing sufficient overtaking possibilities. Nevertheless it is popular as the circuit is close to the beautiful city of Budapest. The lack of passing spots was demonstrated in 1990, when Thierry Boutsen was able to hold off Senna and many others for the entire race distance. A year before, however, Nigel Mansell had won the race from 12th on the grid, proving that it was possible to overtake if you were determined enough.

Subsequently, most races have been decided by tire strategy on this abrasive track. The tight and slippery nature of the circuit allowed Damon Hill to shine in the Arrows in 1997, coming within half a lap of winning the race. By a quirk of fate, the Finnish and Hungarian languages are apparently quite similar and so many Finnish motor racing fans see the Hungarian GP as their home event. In 2000 many Finns made their annual trek to Budapest and were rewarded when hero Mika Hakkinen took a lights to flag victory. This year it looks likely that Kimi Raikkonen will be the object of their affections.

This track is famous for being incredibly twisty and notoriously difficult to overtake on. As the circuit is so slow, races tend to be long and tiring for the drivers, especially in the August heat.

Although lacking breathtaking corners, the Hungaroring is far from easy for the drivers. Qualifying and the start are all-important, as the track provides even less scope for overtaking than usual, while the little-used track is incredibly dirty, making it easy for a tired driver to slide off the road. Last year the track has been subtly altered with the main straight being 300 meters longer and the first corner being more of a hairpin. This led to more overtaking but complaints from many drivers regarding the lack of runoff — especially in the wake of Rubens Barrichello's accident there.

The Track's F1 History

Although the races can be processional and dull, there can also be surprises thrown up.

In 1989 Nigel Mansell won for Ferrari having started 12th on the grid and saw Mansell perform a great overtaking move on Senna when the Brazilian was momentarily held up by a back marker.

In 1992 Mansell claimed his world title here by finishing second while the following year Damon Hill scored his first win here.

Hill won again in 1995 and very nearly pulled off the surprise win of all time when he led most of the race in the Arrows until a 50p washer came loose in the dying laps allowing Villeneuve to take the win.

In 1998 Schumacher put in one of his storming drives to score a good win from Coulthard with Villeneuve third.

1999 was pretty dull as McLaren staged a 1-2 finish and Irvine finished third in a Ferrari that was beginning to show its development was falling behind McLaren's.

In 2000 Mika produced a good but uninspiring drive to finish ahead of Michael Schumacher to win what was a pretty processional race. Last year Michael Schumacher clinched his championship at the track with another dominant performance. The track saw Alesi and Frentzen switch seats with Alesi hardly distinguishing himself by pulling into the Prost garage during practice! After a thorough examination of the car the mechanics dutifully returned the car to a very unamused Eddie Jordan!

In 2002 much British press attention was given over to BAR tester Anthony Davidson who took over Alex Yoong's seat following the Malaysian's non-qualifications at Siverstone and Hockenheim. Davidson then distinguished himself by becoming the fastest driver ever to get a fine in F1 when he forgot to engage his speed limiter coming out of the pitlane for the first time! Shockingly this talented young driver is still without a drive for next season despite regularly topping the time sheets on Friday test days. The race itself was pretty dull with Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher easily dominating proceedings. Barrichello eventually won after a suspiciously long final pitstop for his team mate.

Last year Alonso made good on his early season promise and romped away with his first grand prix win. Throughout the weekend the Spaniard was untouchable and he easily outpaced the rest of the field. Ferrari, by contrast, had a nightmare of a time. The Bridgestone tires were not up to much and Michael Schumacher finished lapped in 8th place. Rubens Barrichello did not even get that far with a suspension failure on the main straight leading to a scary accident and serious questions being asked about the amount of run off area at the end of the start finish straight.

Last Year's Hungarian Grand Prix Results

Circuit Name / Location:  Hungaroring - Budapest, Hugary

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