There is a saying that a Hungarian is the only man who can follow you into a revolving door and come out ahead. Such is the skill needed to pass on what is often described as a large go-kart circuit. Thats right, we have arrived at the Hungaroring in Budapest Hungary. As we have heard constantly from F1 punters this season this is a known as a Lewis Hamilton track, though true to form it is yet to deliver its promises to the British driver as qualifying could be said to not have gone his way.
Hamilton was only on his first qualifying lap when his Mercedes caught fire ending his session and those to follow, placing him at the back of the grid for the start of this final race before the August break.
“I can’t believe it has happened again,” said Hamilton. “This is not a track you can overtake on so coming from last to the podium is unlikely.”
The 29-year-old had been in stunning from in Friday and Saturday’s practice sessions, winning all three, and looked likely to beat Michael Schumacher’s circuit record of four race victories but his latest slice of misfortune has made that aim an improbable one.
Meanwhile Team mate Nico Rosberg finds himself in Familiar company at the front of the grid in the form of Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Williams Valtteri Bottas take up second and third on the grid respectively.
Qualifying Results
1. Nico Rosberg Germany Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 22.715s
2. Sebastian Vettel Germany Red Bull-Renault 1m 23.201s
3. Valtteri Bottas Finland Williams-Mercedes 1m 23.354s
4. Daniel Ricciardo Australia Red Bull-Renault 1m 23.391s
5. Fernando Alonso Spain Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 23.909s
6. Felipe Massa Brazil Williams-Mercedes 1m 24.223s
7. Jenson Button Britain McLaren-Mercedes 1m 24.249s
8. Jean-Eric Vergne France Toro Rosso-Renault 1m 24.720s
9. Nico Hulkenberg Germany Force India-Mercedes 1m 24.775s
10. Kevin Magnussen Denmark McLaren-Mercedes No time
11. Daniil Kvyat Russia Toro Rosso-Renault 1m 24.706s
12. Adrian Sutil Germany Sauber-Ferrari 1m 25.136s
13. Sergio Perez Mexico Force India-Mercedes 1m 25.211s
14. Esteban Gutierrez Mexico Sauber-Ferrari 1m 25.260s
15. Romain Grosjean France Lotus-Renault 1m 25.337s
16. Jules Bianchi France Marussia-Ferrari 1m 27.419s
17. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 26.792s
18. Kamui Kobayashi Japan Caterham-Renault 1m 27.139s
19. Max Chilton Briton Marussia-Ferrari 1m 27.819s
20. Marcus Ericsson Sweden Caterham-Renault 1m 28.643s
Lewis Hamilton Britain Mercedes-Mercedes No time (mechanical problem – fuel leak)
Pastor Maldonado Venezuela Lotus-Renault No time (mechanical problem)
107% time: 1min 30.886secs
all times unofficial
Hungaroring Circuit
Hungary first hosted a grand prix in the 1930s, but following the Second World War and the building of the Iron Curtain it was not until the 1960s that motorsport began to find a place in the country.
At first a street race through Budapest was suggested, but in the end the decision was taken to build a brand new circuit in a valley 19 kilometres outside Budapest. The valley provided natural vantage points for spectators and in 1985 work began on the Hungaroring. The track opened in 1986 and it held its first Formula One event in August that year. It was a huge success and almost 200,000 fans showed up.
Although tight and twisty, the circuit has been known to throw up some great races, the most memorable being Thierry Boutsen’s win in 1990, beating Ayrton Senna by 0.3 seconds, and of course the 1997 race where Damon Hill in the Arrows sensationally passed Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari only to be denied the win by mechanical failure on the very last lap.
Budapest
| Race Date: | 27 Jul 2014 |
| Circuit Name: | Hungaroring |
| First Grand Prix: | 1986 |
| Number of Laps: | 70 |
| Circuit Length: | 4.381 km |
| Race Distance: | 306.630 km |
| Lap Record: | 1:19.071 – M Schumacher (2004) |
Images, track info, qualifying results: Formula1.com, Crash.net
Roger Baillie (@Rojn8r)
