The Hungarian Grand Prix
A landlocked Central European country with an imperial past and recent communist affiliations, Hungary doesn't exactly get the juices flowing. Nor, it must be said, does its Grand Prix. I rack my brains to think of Hungarian food and can only think of goulash (which, admittedly, I rather enjoy). Similarly, the brain hurts when I attempt to think of memorable races at the Hungaroring. This is easily my least favourite circuit.
Like Monaco, driving at the Hungaroring is hellishly frustrating. There are few, if any, overtaking opportunities and Grands Prix at this dreadful circuit are almost invariably dreary processions. Not much motor racing takes place at the Hungaroring, so the circuit tends to be very dusty on racing weekends. If it wasn't for the fact that the 2006 world championship is now at an electrifying stage, I would say that this is a safe race to ignore.
We are at perhaps the most crucial stage of Michael Schumacher's phenomenal career. From being 21 points behind Fernando Alonso a week ago, he now looks capable of pulling off the most spectacular turn-around of his career. The irony about Hungary is that it is here where he performed arguably his best ever performance. In 1998, canny race strategy and machine-like efficiency (pumping in ludicrously fast laps when his opponents were taking on fuel) delivered a phenomenal race win for Schumacher. The Ross Brawn mastery of the strategy switch has now been copied by others but it was at that race where the art form was created. Qualifying and strategy, therefore, are key to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Strategically, then, I would say that Ross Brawn has met his equal in Pat Symonds at Renault. Symonds and Alonso have their work cut out this weekend. They cannot afford a repeat of Hockenheim; that would be soul destroying. Assuming that Hockenheim was but a blip - a very healthy assumption! - the Renault engine and chassis and new Michelin tyre compound will save their bacon in Hungary. Fernando Alonso must be praying to his various Gods. I have little doubt that his buddy King Juan Carlos will have been on the phone to him by now and will - in all likelihood - give him a chivvying ring on Sunday morning. Winning this championship is crucial. It may be the best chance he ever gets of winning a second championship - a base requirement of entry into the pantheon of great racing drivers. Alonso knows better than anyone that next year will be jolly difficult. Winning a championship with McLaren on current form is a tall order. That is why Kimi Raikkonen is jumping ship.
This really is the story of this weekend: driver moves for 2007. Nobody really knows whether there is going to be a vacant slot at Ferrari because Michael Schumacher won't tell anyone what he wants to do next year. Given that he is playing at the top of his game - even at 37 - who wants to bet on what his decision is going to be? Then there is the confirmed vacant slot at Renault. But who is going to occupy it? Will it be Raikkonen? Well, going by what the Ferrari boss, Jean Todt, was saying last weekend, he seems like a sure thing for the Scuderia. So, will it be Mark Webber then? Williams have confirmed that Webber's slot will be occupied by McLaren test driver, Alexander Wurz, so Webber is free to wander. Being a member of Flavio Briatore's stable of drivers means it is highly likely that Flav will place him at Renault. But then again, Briatore may want him at Red Bull. And then there is the question of who is to partner Alonso at McLaren. It's all terribly complicated!
Perhaps Chipo is right. Perhaps it made sense for Juan Pablo Montoya to quit this crazy circus and do something more exciting and less political...
The action to watch must really be qualifying. That's when you will see something interesting. The joker in the pack has got to be Kimi Raikkonen. He won the race last year and looked in outstanding form last weekend. He also has a point to prove to Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. Raikkonen could very well end up being the reason that Alonso is denied a second championship. This would be a very satisfying outcome for Raikkonen because he would finish the season only one – and not two – championships behind his arch rival. If he then nails the 2007 crown they will be on equal footing for 2008 – a very exciting prospect.
I expect a boring race but hope to be pleasantly surprised - anything can happen in Formula 1. The ever reliable Guiseppe phoned me this morning to inform me that he had dredged up some Dreher beer and "a Hungarian surprise". I look forward to it. There might not be much wheel to wheel action at the Hungaroring but there is all this intrigue to make sense of (it's almost as good as any soap opera!). With something appropriate with which to tickle the tonsils,
Enjoy Hungary!
Gitau
4 August 2006
Like Monaco, driving at the Hungaroring is hellishly frustrating. There are few, if any, overtaking opportunities and Grands Prix at this dreadful circuit are almost invariably dreary processions. Not much motor racing takes place at the Hungaroring, so the circuit tends to be very dusty on racing weekends. If it wasn't for the fact that the 2006 world championship is now at an electrifying stage, I would say that this is a safe race to ignore.
We are at perhaps the most crucial stage of Michael Schumacher's phenomenal career. From being 21 points behind Fernando Alonso a week ago, he now looks capable of pulling off the most spectacular turn-around of his career. The irony about Hungary is that it is here where he performed arguably his best ever performance. In 1998, canny race strategy and machine-like efficiency (pumping in ludicrously fast laps when his opponents were taking on fuel) delivered a phenomenal race win for Schumacher. The Ross Brawn mastery of the strategy switch has now been copied by others but it was at that race where the art form was created. Qualifying and strategy, therefore, are key to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Strategically, then, I would say that Ross Brawn has met his equal in Pat Symonds at Renault. Symonds and Alonso have their work cut out this weekend. They cannot afford a repeat of Hockenheim; that would be soul destroying. Assuming that Hockenheim was but a blip - a very healthy assumption! - the Renault engine and chassis and new Michelin tyre compound will save their bacon in Hungary. Fernando Alonso must be praying to his various Gods. I have little doubt that his buddy King Juan Carlos will have been on the phone to him by now and will - in all likelihood - give him a chivvying ring on Sunday morning. Winning this championship is crucial. It may be the best chance he ever gets of winning a second championship - a base requirement of entry into the pantheon of great racing drivers. Alonso knows better than anyone that next year will be jolly difficult. Winning a championship with McLaren on current form is a tall order. That is why Kimi Raikkonen is jumping ship.
This really is the story of this weekend: driver moves for 2007. Nobody really knows whether there is going to be a vacant slot at Ferrari because Michael Schumacher won't tell anyone what he wants to do next year. Given that he is playing at the top of his game - even at 37 - who wants to bet on what his decision is going to be? Then there is the confirmed vacant slot at Renault. But who is going to occupy it? Will it be Raikkonen? Well, going by what the Ferrari boss, Jean Todt, was saying last weekend, he seems like a sure thing for the Scuderia. So, will it be Mark Webber then? Williams have confirmed that Webber's slot will be occupied by McLaren test driver, Alexander Wurz, so Webber is free to wander. Being a member of Flavio Briatore's stable of drivers means it is highly likely that Flav will place him at Renault. But then again, Briatore may want him at Red Bull. And then there is the question of who is to partner Alonso at McLaren. It's all terribly complicated!
Perhaps Chipo is right. Perhaps it made sense for Juan Pablo Montoya to quit this crazy circus and do something more exciting and less political...
The action to watch must really be qualifying. That's when you will see something interesting. The joker in the pack has got to be Kimi Raikkonen. He won the race last year and looked in outstanding form last weekend. He also has a point to prove to Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. Raikkonen could very well end up being the reason that Alonso is denied a second championship. This would be a very satisfying outcome for Raikkonen because he would finish the season only one – and not two – championships behind his arch rival. If he then nails the 2007 crown they will be on equal footing for 2008 – a very exciting prospect.
I expect a boring race but hope to be pleasantly surprised - anything can happen in Formula 1. The ever reliable Guiseppe phoned me this morning to inform me that he had dredged up some Dreher beer and "a Hungarian surprise". I look forward to it. There might not be much wheel to wheel action at the Hungaroring but there is all this intrigue to make sense of (it's almost as good as any soap opera!). With something appropriate with which to tickle the tonsils,
Enjoy Hungary!
Gitau
4 August 2006
posted by Gitau at 1:48 pm
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