Well it has been a while since out last outing, but the series is back from another odd break in a calendar which looks more like the proverbial swiss cheese than an actual season, in preparation for the polarising Hungarian GP. But before we get onto that, it is time for the news.
While I, and most other people probably have been sitting around for the past three weeks waiting for some racing, the grid spent the first weekend effectively on holiday at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and then most people went to the young driver test that involved most race drivers except Mercedes who were banned. Were any of the times from the test relevant probably not, but there were some interesting faces in the cars, several development drivers appeared including Suzie Wolf for Williams, and Robin Frjns for Sauber - the latter being an interesting prospect even though financial difficulties have relegated him from the GP2 series. On the second day, Daniel Ricciardo finished they day 1st and 3rd... having driven both the Torro Ross and the Red Bull, perhaps an early indication of Webbers replacement.
What else has been going on... well there are plans afoot for next season's calender, which is up for several changes if the rumours are to be believed. First up the track at Sochi in Russia has been inspected and approved for F1, our newest addition to the season. Next up Red Bull are up to something in Austria - remember the A1-Ring that went missing for a while as it fell into disrepair, but Red Bull bought it, and refurbished it and now they want it on the calendar and Bernie seems to think it's a good idea. On top of that there is the ongoing saga involving the New Jersey GP, which was delayed due to a combination of Hurricane Sandy and money issues, it has gone all quiet on that front, but with all those tracks - others are under threat. The internet believes that Korea is under threat of being culled, along with the Hungaroring, more worryingly Suzuka is out of contract.... it will be a very sad day if that goes missing. Also the Spa/Paul-Ricard deal also has gone a little quiet along with rumours of Thailand, Mexico and South Africa having their names thrown into the theoretical hat.
We can assume more light will be shed on these matters this weekend... which is also presently lacking a contract for next season... for the Hungarian GP
The Track
When the thought of the Hungarian GP turns up it is traditionally responded to with an underwhelming sigh, and an excuse to take a nap on a Sunday afternoon, even the conventionally mental GP2 races have been dull at times. Which is a massive shame because the track is good, and quite entertaining to potter round in the simulator, the layout flows well and the middle sector is brilliant - so with a track that is such a decent place to drive around on, why is the racing so tiresome... Well it is quite narrow in places, most places - in the same manner that the Nurburgring is, therefore there it is hard to get two cars wide most of the way round. The second problem is ironically one of it's strengths as a track - it flows well with little in the way of straights, so there is one usable line that everyone uses, which leaves the track offline dusty, and exceptionally low grip.
The powers that be have been rather aware of this predicament over the years and did make some changes to the track to make the track more race-able without compromising the nature of the layout. This meant re-profiling T1, making the apex sharper and the breaking zone longer, and hey presto we have passing - backed up in recent years with the DRS on the front straight. A second change was made on the other side of the circuit at turn 12, through the same process of sharpening the corner and lengthening the straight. However this adjustment hasn't been quite so successful, not in F1 anyway - Maldonado tried passing here and just biffed Hulkenberg out the way instead, but Maldonado likes biffing people in most corners.
In this season of cramming as much DRS into each layout as possible, two zones have been added - one on the main straight, and the second on the exit of T1 before T2... which seems a little mad on the surface given how little space there is between the first two corners. But to make matters all kinds of worse is that there is a single detection zone... seriously, why... who makes up these things and what are they taking when making these decisions. It would make more sense to use the space after turn 11 to make use of the re-profiled T12, the hill up to turn four would be a decent straight but the idea of reaching the crest with the DRS open is frightening. The wing only closes automatically when the brakes are applied, which doesn't happen in turn four - Ralph Firman had a rear wing failure in a Jordan there and had a massive accident. An accident that gave Timo Glock his debut standing in for the injured Irishman. So there is a precedent for lack of rear downforce approaching that corner.
What to Expect
The forecast for this race is heat, a lot of it - in fact it may be the hottest race of all time approaching 38 degrees on Sunday, warmer than races in the Bahrani desert. So in essence Mercedes may as well not bother turning up as this is going to cripple their tyre conservation and race pace, it also may not be too helpful for Red Bull. It does however make the people at Lotus rather happy, having taken two thirds of all podium places in Bahrain since 2012 - their cars rather enjoy the heat. Ferrari also have a car that likes it hot, not as much as the Lotus team, but have more baseline pace. Meaning that the race looks like it could be unusually fun for a race at the Hungaroring, because Mercedes may be quick in Qualifying but may evaporate completely the day after falling into a long train of faster cars.
Despite bringing new constructions and developments in the tyre department - no-one has tested in temperatures that we are expecting. How long will even the most conservative compounds fair on an abrasive surface in almost 40 degree heat - no-one has any idea, but the best guess is that whatever the results are Mercedes will not like it one bit. It will however potentially enhance Lotus' advantage on long run pace, especially with the race being the hottest part of the weekend. There is some potential for some odd results at the end of the race because Force India and Sauber are good on tyres... and if there is a chance of failures in the heat... who knows indeed. Hungary might not be famous for out and out excitement in the dry, but the variables involved this weekend may very well change that. So until then this is farewell from Blog HQ.
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