29/07/2012
NEWS STORY
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On his way into the Hungaroring this morning, Mat Coch was forced to drive at half his normal speed. Nor due to the vast number of fans making their way to the track but the weather, which other than very heavy rain including thunderbolts and lightning… very, very frightening.
However, an hour or so later, as the GP3 grid formed, the track was almost dry and the field was shod with slicks.
So, bearing all this in mind, and with widespread speculation that there will be further storms this afternoon, welcome to Hungary.
The overriding thing about yesterday's qualifying, indeed most of the practice sessions, was the sheer pace of the McLarens, particularly in the hands of Lewis Hamilton. This, of course, comes a couple of weeks after the Woking outfit, according to much of the media, was on the brink of implosion - such was its poor form - with Lewis Hamilton looking to join any team that might have him and Jenson Button considering retirement.
Ignoring the sensationalism from the media - including those who should, but clearly don't, know better - the tables appear to have been turned somewhat with the Woking team on the ascendant and Red Bull on the back foot.
While McLaren, particularly Hamilton, does look very strong here, for many the dark horse remains Lotus, and with Romain Grosjean starting from the front row and Kimi Raikkonen three spot behind who can blame them.
While denying that it has been affected by the FIA tightening the engine map loophole, Red Bull is clearly struggling here, witness Mark Webber's failure to make it into Q3, the third time this has happened this season. Teammate Sebastian Vettel does start from third, but all in all the Milton Keynes team is not looking comfortable.
Of course, if you want to see a team that is really hurting look no further than Mercedes, where both drivers failed to make the cut, like many, including Webber, Schumacher and Rosberg will be watching the skies eagerly this afternoon in the hope that the weather gods will make an appearance.
Though he's leading the world championship and will continue to do so this afternoon and into the summer break, yesterday's performance reminded us what Ferrari and Fernando Alonso - who celebrates his 31st birthday today - have been saying for as long as we can remember, namely, that the F2012 isn't very fast. Then again, with 2012 being all about 'points making prizes', the Spaniard, who has scored in every race this season, is likely to add further to his tally. As should teammate Felipe Massa, for whom this circuit has many different memories.
While the Saubers have disappointed here, though not as much as the Mercedes, Force India continues to tread water and Toro Rosso slowly sink into mediocrity.
Along the pitlane however, Williams roller-coaster season takes another amazing twist as both drivers make it into Q3 for the first time. While we already know what the Venezuelan is capable of (in every sense), what better time for his teammate to shine, particularly as the Bottas speculation builds… the Finn being very close to Toto Wolff.
Of the newbies - if we may continue referring to them as that - Caterham looks likely to be battling Toro Rosso, a comment that says more about the Faenza squad than its Malaysian rivals, while Marussia continues to put light between itself and the hapless HRT (god love em!) though failing to keep pace with Caterham.
As for predictions, well, if it remains dry Hamilton has to be favourite, while Grosjean must take some comfort from the fact he can only really be hit from behind at the start. Vettel , like Webber doesn't appear happy, while the Ferraris will be happy to settle for points. So, in our opinion, Hamilton to win from the Lotus duo.
However, if the rain does make an appearance… it could be anyone, remember Thierry Boutsen in 1990 when, albeit in the dry, he held Ayrton Senna at bay for pretty much most of the race.
This is a b****r of a track for overtaking be it wet or dry and while many might point to Nigel Mansell's heroics in 1989, in the modern era, where point makes prizes, most of today's drivers are more likely to settle for position rather than try anything silly.
If it remains dry, strategy, as ever, is all important. Though it is widely expected that tyre degradation will be a key issue, not helped by the fact that the teams have done little running on full fuel, Pirelli believes that most teams will opt for two stops while admitting that some (Sauber?) might opt for just one. That said, pre-race shots of the track surface indicate that the organisers might be best off getting in a tarmac laying crew for next year. The sole DRS zone is on the main straight.
Fifteen minutes before the start, drivers seek shelter from the intense heat. While there remains talk of rain, most feel it will arrive after the race. "There is definitely a bank of clouds building out towards the last sector of the track," texts Mat Coch, "but again with the sky so brown it's hard to tell if they're going to be a threat. To say it's stinking hot is completely fair. Doesn't feel as hot as yesterday, mind, but that's my personal opinion based on nothing more than how gross I feel."
As the drivers prepare to head off on the warm-up lap, air temperature is 30 degrees, while the track temperature is 45 degrees. Humidity is 41 percent.
As they head off, all but Webber, Pic, Glock and de la Rosa are on softs. Raikkonen is told to warm his brakes on the formation lap.
Hamilton is kept waiting for ages as the grid forms, finally they are all in place. However, Schumacher a problem - the German having had his KERS replaced earlier - cannot get going so the start is aborted and the field sent around again.
The grid forms again. They're away! Great starts from Hamilton and Vettel but the German runs too deep into T1 and loses out to Button. Webber is already up to seventh.
At the end of lap 1, it's Hamilton, Grosjean, Button, Vettel, Alonso, Raikkonen, Webber, Senna, Massa and Hulkenberg.
"Why is my KERS not working," shouts Raikkonen. "Press OK twice," is the response. We've all been there Kimi. Schumacher pits switching the medium rubber.
After two laps, Hamilton leads by 2.1s as Maldonado battles with Rosberg ahead and Perez behind. DRS is now enabled. The Venezuelan, like Massa, having a poor start.
As Schumacher is handed a drive-through for speeding in the pitlane, after three laps it is already fairly processional the field spread out, 37s separating Hamilton and Schumacher.
As Schumacher serve his penalty, at the end of lap 4, Grosjean posts a new fastest lap (28.460). The Frenchman, 2.2s down on the leader, maintains a 1.7 gap to Button. Elsewhere, Glock spins at T12.
Behind the leading ten, Rosberg heads Maldonado, Perez, di Resta, Ricciardo, Vergne, Kovalainen and Petrov. Schumacher, a four-time winner here, remains last, 14s behind Karthikeyan.
At the end of lap 9, Kobayashi is the first driver to make a regular stop, the Sauber driver switching to the prime tyre.
While Grosjean keeps pace with Hamilton, Button loses ground to the Frenchman falling into the clutches of Vettel. That said, as the order remains static - except for Kobayashi passing backmarkers - it appears that it will be the pit stops that lead to changes.
As Grosjean goes quickest in S1 on lap 13, Vergne pits. Schumacher closes to within 0.2s of Glock.
Grosjean ups the ante with a 27.386, opening a 6s gap to Button.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 15, the Australian staying with the softer rubber. Elsewhere, a wobble for Button in T4, the Englishman pitting shortly after. Now on primes, Button rejoins in tenth behind Rosberg. Hulkenberg and Maldonado also pit.
Next time around Senna pits, as do Rosberg and di Resta. Rosberg is held back as he leaves his slot, his pit crew fearing a clash with the Force India.
Button is told to use the 'free air', as Vettel and Alonso both pit. The Englishman, now in eight, just ahead of Vettel as he exits the pits.
Race leader Hamilton stops at the end of lap 18, as does Massa. It's a slowish stop for the McLaren driver while Raikkonen and Webber post PBs. Out front, new race leader Grosjean is told to "push!"
The Lotus crew are in position in the pitlane for Grosjean at the end of lap 19, it's a slowing stop for the Lotus driver also. He rejoins in fourth behind Hamilton.
Alonso makes short work of Perez, making full use of the track, as Raikkonen and Webber both pit. A strong performance from the Australian.
Grosjean and Vettel trade fastest sector times as Hamilton now has the lead again, ahead of the Frenchman and Button. Vettel remains fourth ahead of Raikkonen and Alonso.
Perez, clearly struggling for grip, is passed by Senna. The Mexican subsequently pits rejoining in fifteenth. Hamilton is updated in terms of Grosjean's tyres, his crew informing him that the Lotus driver will probably need to stop earlier.
At one-third distance, it's: Hamilton, Grosjean, Button, Vettel, Raikkonen, Alonso, Webber, Senna, Massa and Rosberg. Grosjean bangs in as new fastest lap (26.535) closing to within 1.3s of the leader.
Vettel, now just 0.8s down on Button, posts a string of PBs as does Raikkonen. Elsewhere, Schumacher is up to nineteenth and closing in on Kovalainen.
At the end of lap 26, the Red Bull crew get ready for Webber but the Australian stays out. Grosjean posts two laps significantly slower than the leader as he falls 2.9s behind before pulling back another 0.6s.
"Think about using multi-map 4 to look after the tyres," Raikkonen is told, "we need to make this run long." Elsewhere, Vettel continues to shadow Button, 5.1s ahead of the Finn.
The Sauber duo running fifteenth (Perez) and sixteenth, the Swiss team enjoying a nightmare race.
Frustrated behind Button, Vettel asks his team to do "something different" to get him past. Have these guys never heard of overtaking? "We know what you mean Sebastian, we're working on it," is the response. "Try something, try something," urges the world champion.
Meanwhile, Button is told that his team will have to switch him to "Plan B". The Woking outfit will have heard Vettel's radio call.
On lap 32, Grosjean has a wobble in T4, the Frenchman appearing to struggle or grip. Meanwhile, Raikkonen has closed to within 4.2s of Vettel.
Schumacher makes his third stop of the day, rejoining in twentieth.
"The race ahead is what you can see, Webber is told. Moments later Button pits, rejoining in eighth behind Senna. Elsewhere, Hamilton is told that he too may need to switch to "Plan B".
Whatever Plan B is - a third stop? - both McLaren driver are switching to it.
Vettel posts a new fastest lap, the German banging in a sneaky 26.512. Elsewhere, Button is battling with Senna for seventh.
Next time around, Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (26.365) as Webber is asked if he thinks Alonso is in trouble with his tyres. "I think so," replies the Australian.
Closing to within 2.5s of Vettel, Raikkonen bangs in another fastest lap (26.128). Hamilton complains about the backmarkers as Vettel closes to within 0.7s.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 38, the German locking-up as he enters the pitlane. The German rejoins ahead of the Senna/Button battle, everything going wrong for the McLaren driver.
Next time around it is Grosjean who pits, as does Webber, while Hamilton is told that he's reverting to 'Plan A'.
Grosjean rejoins in fourth behind Alonso the Frenchman told that he is "racing Vettel.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 40, rejoining in second behind Raikkonen who has yet to stop. Good work by McLaren in terms of strategy and pit work. Rosberg and Pic pit also.
Out front, Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (25.728) as he extends his lead over Hamilton to 13.3s. Alonso is third, but still to stop again, ahead of Grosjean, Vettel, Senna, Button, Massa, Webber and Maldonado.
Senna finally pits at the end of lap 42, releasing Button who is now 2.8s down on Vettel.
Sixth placed Alonso makes his second stop at the end of lap 43, teammate Massa stopping moments later. They rejoin in seventh and ninth.
"OK Kimi, we really need to push, this is the last lap for us." The Finn is currently 13.9s ahead of Hamilton.
Sure enough, at the end of the lap Raikkonen pits, the Finn rejoining the race 19.772s later alongside his Lotus teammate. The Iceman forces Grosjean wide, setting off after Hamilton who is 4.4s ahead. Elsewhere, Button makes his third stop of the afternoon, and a messy stop it is. He rejoins in seventh behind Alonso.
Replay gives fascinating insight into the Raikkonen/Grosjean battle following the Finn's pit stop, both drivers being talked through it be their engineers.
Elsewhere, in the process of passing di Resta, Maldonado clouts the Force India forcing it off track. It wouldn't be a Grand Prix without the Williams driver clouting someone.
"All cars have made their final stops," Hamilton is told. He is warned that Raikkonen, on fresher tyres, will catch him. However, he is told that; "you can do this, you can do this".
With 20 laps remaining, Hamilton leads Raikkonen by 1.9s with Grosjean a further 2.5s behind. Vettel is fourth, 2.1s down on the Frenchman, 6.4s clear of Webber.
The stewards announce that they are investigating the Maldonado/di Resta incident. The Williams driver is subsequently handed a drive-through.
"KERS mode 10," Raikkonen is told, "we'll turn it down when we get close to Hamilton."
As Maldonado serves his penalty, Petrov makes his third pit stop of the afternoon, the Russian rejoining in twentieth.
Now 1.7s down on Grosjean, Vettel is told to push; "come on, we need a little bit more," he is urged. Elsewhere, Raikkonen is within 0.9s of the race leader.
Webber makes his third stop at the end of lap 55, the Australian rejoining in eighth behind Massa.
Vettel makes a third stop at the end of lap 58, rejoining just ahead of Alonso. The pair are immediately locked in battle, the Ferrari driver attempting to go around the outside in T2, however, the German's fresher tyres save the day.
On lap 60, Schumacher becomes the first retirement of the day. The German, and his team, will be happy to consign this race to history.
On fresher rubber, Vettel sets about closing the 17s gap to Grosjean by posting a new fastest lap (25.137). Hamilton is told that he's doing a "great job".
As Vettel posts anther fastest lap (24.584) catching Grosjean at almost 2s a lap, Raikkonen closes in on Hamilton, the Finn hoping to use the backmarkers to his advantage.
Webber is all over Senna for seventh as Karthikeyan pulls off to the side of the track. Hamilton is told that he has full revs available.
A late stop, his fourth of the day, sees Vergne take on another set of primes.
With three laps remaining, Hamilton gives himself a 1.2s breather, as Vettel closes to within 5.6s of Grosjean.
On the penultimate lap, Vettel posts a 24.136 closing to within 3.4s of Grosjean. A great charge but it won't be enough.
Hamilton takes the flag, while Raikkonen and Grosjean complete the podium. Vettel takes fourth, ahead of Alonso, Button, Senna, Webber, Massa and Rosberg.
Hulkenberg finishes eleventh, ahead of di Resta, Maldonado, Perez, Ricciardo, Vergne, Kovalainen, Kobayashi, Petrov, Pic, Glock and de la Rosa.
The win, his second of the season, moves Hamilton into fourth in the standings, five shy of Vettel and one ahead of Raikkonen. However, ominously, Alonso now enjoys a 40 point lead over his nearest rival, Webber.
The win also moves McLaren into second in the constructors' standings, albeit 53 points behind the current champions. With 193 points, the Woking outfit is just one ahead of Lotus and four ahead of Ferrari.
"Fantastic job," Lewis is told as he takes the flag. "Let's try and keep this up," he replies.
Having dominated most of the practice sessions, taken pole and won the race, it was indeed a fantastic weekend for Hamilton. A far cry from what the doom and gloom merchants were saying just a few days ago.
A now for the holidays…
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