Hungarian Grand Prix: Teams and Drivers Preview – Part I
With less than 48 hours to go before the cars hit the track at Hungaroring, we take a look at how the drivers see the upcoming event, how the teams have prepared for the challenging race and how the upgrades are going to influence the pace and grip of the cars.
Toro Rosso
Championship Position: 9
Points: 10
Toro Rosso had a race to forget in Germany as Sebastian Buemi’s race ended on the first lap due to an accident. Buemi said that Toro Rosso’s focus would be downforce instead of speed because it is a slow speed circuit. He said that Hungaroring is one of the toughest tracks in Formula One as there are no long straights and no constant left hand or right hand turns. Jaime Alguersuari, who started his Formula One career in Hungary last year, said that this is a demanding race because during the earlier sessions, the track is dusty and it changes by the time drivers race on it. Hence, there is a lot of unpredictability attached to the set-up of the car. He believes that the surface of the track is smooth so overheating will not be a problem if tyres are managed well. Alguersuari said that finding the traction on the last turn would help a lot, as it will enable maximum speed through the following straight.
Lotus F1
Championship Position: 10
Points: 0
Heikki Kovalainen, who won in Hungary two years ago, said that qualifying is very important in Hungary because if you are stuck behind another car, there are not many opportunities to pass them. He said that the track is very hard to press on but it is satisfying to know that finding the right set-up for the car is a possibility. Jarno Trulli, after a bad race in Germany, is hopeful of a good performance in Hungary and has said that the twisty corners and bumpy tracks are a big challenge. According to Trulli, Lotus will be running a full downforce set-up, which will help a lot through tight corners. Lotus Racing CEO Riad Asmat said that the team will work hard, focus on the positives and make sure that they push towards the cars ahead of them. He said that Hungary will be a step forward and a lackluster performance in Germany motivates them to do better as the spirits and passion on the team are at a high. Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne said that the track will suit Lotus and they will have an advantage over the other new comers and that they are confident that Lotus will stay ahead of their competitors.
Hispania Racing Team
Championship Position: 11
Points: 0
Hispania Racing Team has decided to stick with its driver line up that raced in Germany and once again, Yamamoto will race instead of Karun Chandhok. Yamamoto already knows the Hungarian circuit well, having raced here with Super Auguri and Spyker F1 in Formula One and with ART in GP2. Yamamoto who retired on lap 20 in Germany following a mechanical problem said that the races are very tough in Hungaroring as there is not much gap between corners. Yamamoto believes that good braking stability and traction are key to a good race in Hungary. Bruno Senna continues to drive for HRT despite the rumors that his services may be terminated following the email incident in which he criticized the team management. Senna has also raced at the circuit before in GP2 and has secured two podiums. Senna has said that it is a very challenging circuit due to high downforce requirements and long-radius bumpy corners, which are tough on both man and machine. Team Principal Dr. Collin Kolles said that Hungary is one of the toughest races on the calendar as the track conditions, tight and twisty surface, and heat levels push both the cars and drivers to the limit. Kolles believes that the key in the race is qualifying, mechanical grip and high-torque engine set-up. The team hopes to get a better result than its last race in Germany.
Virgin Racing Team
Championship Position: 12
Points: 0
Virgin Racing Team achieved a very good result in Germany when Timo Glock finished ahead of all the new cars securing a very impressive 18th position. Although the team believes that the track will not be ideal for their set-up, they are hoping to finish both their cars ahead of Lotus and Hispania Racing.
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