RACE PREVIEW

HUNGARY

THE MAIN EVENT

Previously constitutionally conjoined for 50 years prior to 1918, Austria and Hungary don’t share a language or currency but geographical proximity is convenient in the COVID-19 era: the Hungaroring is just 260 miles by road from the Red Bull Ring, enabling the temporarily slimmeddown F1 circus to relocate to Budapest a week after the Austrian double-header.

Situated just east of the Hungarian capital, the Hungaroring is an undulating track which has grown in stature in recent years. It remains a tricky place on which to overtake, but circumstances have conspired to make many of the most recent races memorable and exciting for a variety of reasons. The variable weather helps – it can go from hot and dusty to soaking wet over the race weekend.

2019 RACE RECAP

This was the grand prix that ended Pierre Gasly’s tenure as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate. Verstappen qualified on pole position but Gasly’s poor performance on Saturday – he started sixth – proved crucial on race day.

Verstappen led from lights out, helped by the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas tripping over each other as they challenged him into the first two corners. Wing damage pegged Bottas back and although Hamilton appeared to be struggling with tyres and brakes, the huge gap behind him – which ought to have been occupied by Gasly and Bottas – enabled him to make a second pitstop and catch and pass Verstappen late on.

KEY CORNER: TURN 1 Extended and reprofiled in 2003 to improve the possibility of overtaking, Turn 1 is a sharp hairpin at the end of the main straight. In its current form, braking too late compromises drivers into the following two corners and opens up more opportunities to pass.

RACE DATA

Venue Hungaroring

First GP 1986

Number of laps 70

Circuit length 2.72 miles

Longest straight 0.546 miles

Elevation change 123.69 feet

Race distance 190.53 miles

Lap record 1m 17.103s Max Verstappen (2019)

F1 races held 34

Winners from pole 15

Pirelli compounds C2, C3, C4

CAR PERFORMANCE

Downforce level High

Cooling requirement High

Fuel consumption 2.1kg/lap

Full throttle 55%

Top speed 193mph

Average speed 123mph

TIMETABLE RACE

(UK TIME)

Friday 17 July

Practice 1 10:00-11:30

Practice 2 14:00-15:30

Saturday 18 July

Practice 3 11:00-12:00

Qualifying 14:00-15:00

Sunday 19 July

Race 14:10

Live coverage Sky Sports F1

Highlights Channel 4