System One has reached spherical 13 — the Hungarian Grand Prix, and what started out as one other dominant Pink Bull marketing campaign at the beginning of the season has delivered some thrilling races since Miami, with shock winners and the battle intensifying.
To date, the season has had six completely different winners and has seen a resurgence from Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton again to successful methods on the British Grand Prix. In the meantime Ferrari, who had been the challengers to Max Verstappen and Pink Bull at the beginning, have discovered themselves with just one podium since Charles Leclerc’s Monaco Grand Prix win in Could.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton has probably the most pole positions and wins on the Hungaroring, however in fact Pink Bull stay the workforce to beat.
Newest information
American workforce Haas signed Oliver Bearman for 2025, and introduced they’ll race with Ferrari engines till 2028.
Away from F1 on the Goodwood Pageant of Velocity, Christian Horner drove Sebastian Vettel’s automotive, and Adrian Newey unveiled his £6 million RB17.
Are McLaren changing into F1’s ‘what may need been’ workforce?
Hamilton’s “GOAT” standing is confirmed once more on the British GP. Plus Hungarian Grand Prix preview — hearken to the most recent podcast episode.
Circuit stats & historical past
The Hungaroring grew to become the primary venue to host a grand prix behind the Iron Curtain in 1986 and has since turn out to be a mainstay on the F1 calendar.
Usually in comparison with a go-kart circuit on account of its tight format and lack of straights, the two.7-mile monitor has solely acquired minor modifications, together with a profitable try to help overtaking into Flip One in 2003.
Identified for thrilling and strange races, it has been the scene of 5 maiden victories, together with Damon Hill’s in 1993, Fernando Alonso’s in 2004 and Jenson Button’s in 2006.
Laps: 70 laps of 4.3km. Complete distance 306km
Lap report: 1:16.627 – Hamilton (2020)
Most wins: Hamilton with eight (2007, 2009, 2012-2013, 2016, 2018-2020). Of different present drivers, Verstappen (2022, 2023), Fernando Alonso (2003), Daniel Ricciardo (2013) Esteban Ocon (2021) have all received right here.
Most poles: That may be Hamilton once more with 9 (2007-2008, 2012-2013, 2015, 2018, 2020-2021, 2023). Of different present drivers, George Russell (2022), Verstappen (2019), Alonso (2003-2009) have been on pole right here.
What occurred final 12 months?
In qualifying, Hamilton took his first pole place for the reason that 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, however the lead solely lasted till the primary nook as Verstappen swept by to assert P1 following a greater begin.
The Pink Bull driver by no means seemed again from that second, securing the victory by over 30 seconds forward of Norris’ McLaren in second place, Perez in third and Hamilton in fourth.
On the rostrum Norris by chance smashed Verstappen’s trophy, getting too excited with a big bottle of champagne…
Who’s going to win?
The Hungaroring represents a return to sluggish and medium-speed corners, which can assist Ferrari get better to a extra aggressive place. However on a circuit the place Verstappen dominated final 12 months, it is onerous to look previous Pink Bull being the favorite for victory.
Watch on ESPNEWS and ESPN+ (U.S. solely). Dwell broadcast protection within the U.Okay. is on Sky Sports activities F1 and BBC Radio 5 Dwell. For information, evaluation and updates, comply with the protection with ESPN’s F1 workforce Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in Budapest and on social media. Friday Saturday Sunday Verstappen continues to dominate the standings and reveals no indicators of stopping with a factors hole of 84 to Norris in second. Though Mercedes have been extra aggressive just lately, they’re a whopping 60 factors behind Norris, so each groups (and Ferrari) would wish a string of successive wins to have any likelihood of closing that hole. The constructors’ championship is shut between McLaren and Ferrari, and each groups might want to stop Pink Bull from scoring excessive factors to catch up. watch the GP
Free apply one – 12:30-13:30 BST
Free apply two – 16:00-17:00 BST.
Free apply three – 11:30-12:30 BST
Qualifying – 15:00-16:00 BST.
Race begins – 14:00 BST.How the championships look