3 things you need to know about the Hungarian Grand Prix
Formula One returns to Mogyorod for the 31st Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Here are three things you need to know.
The Track
| Hungaroring | |
|---|---|
| Circuit length | 4.381 km |
| Number of laps | 70 |
| Race distance | 306.63 km |
(Courtesy: Formula One)
The Hungaroring, just outside Budapest, has the feel of a street circuit without the city surroundings ... With only 4.8 kilometres to cover and 14 turns to negotiate, there's plenty to test drivers on this tight, wound-up circuit ... Accidents are prone to happen as drivers enter the chicane on Turns 6 and 7 ... The track then heads downhill towards Turn 12 ... Track temperatures can get very hot in Hungary, meaning crews will have to monitor tire conditions.
Red Bull with chance to push Mercedes
Red Bull has outscored Ferrari by 13 points over the past six races, enjoying the benefits of a new Renault engine while taking advantage of the Italian manufacturer's lack of consistency.
Max Verstappen is clearly the in-form driver for Red Bull, but Daniel Ricciardo has good memories on this track from winning the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix. However, there's a chance for the two of them to come together and overtake Ferrari in the constructors' standings, with Red Bull just six points behind.
The Austria-based manufacturer saw its best result at Monaco, and were it not for Ricciardo's pit-stop mix-up, Red Bull would've won the race. The Hungaroring is similar to Monaco's winding street circuit, and Red Bull can rely on its downforce to squeeze good times here - rain or shine.
Ferrari 'cannot fool around anymore'
Coming off an underwhelming showing in Britain - where Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel only managed fifth- and ninth-place finishes, respectively - Ferrari has to land on the podium if it has any genuine hopes of catching Mercedes.
The most significant issue with the car is a lack of downforce - a big reason Ferrari's failed to win a single race this season.
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 335 |
| 2 | Ferrarri | 204 |
| 3 | Red Bull Racing | 198 |
"After Hungary we cannot fool around anymore," said Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene. "After that (race), we will understand what chances there are and where we are - and I believe that we cannot fail."
Vettel's gearbox also caused the German problems during the British Grand Prix, but after studying the car during the two-week break, Ferrari's margin for error is slim.