2012 Hungarian GP - Hungaroring

[Gerhard Berger]

We haven't seen a dry Pirelli race here. If we do get this European heat wave, i think this track will be a tyre eater.

[zyphro]

What im sure about this race ...Mercedes can't place a car in top 4 on race probably on qualifying both of them (Michael and Nico) start on first 2 lines.

Agreed .

[Adamski]

We haven't seen a dry Pirelli race here. If we do get this European heat wave, i think this track will be a tyre eater.

I am from Hungary. For the weather, the heat wave is the past.

Now it is something much cooler (around 18-24°C), with lot of short rain falls. Of course it doesn't mean it will stay like this and weather specialist predicting continual warm up. Although I am expecting some rain during the weekend.

[raymondu999]

Mind you I also see this as a race where, barring any force majeure, should be Alonso's. I'm HOPING for the sake of the title fight that it's not - but yeah.

Maybe a an errant bird will fly straight into Alonso's airbox, or a nail suddenly appears on track in front of Alonso's grid slot. We need SOMETHING to see the championship tables close up again!

In other news - should be a good show of who has the highest peak downforce now. Melbourne-spec I'd have said McLaren. Now, after the various upgrades the 3 top teams have done - I'm not so sure.

I'd love a weekend where rain stays out of any and all forecasts and out of the sky. It would give the teams a clear direction in which to work their setup. I'm quite sure with Hockenheim and Silverstone that the true order of things was masked (even if it's only very slightly so) by different people gambling on wet/dry setups.

[Jackuar]

I'd be happy to let Vettel keep one of his records atleast till this year - not winning a race in July

[raymondu999]

Isn't it Alonso's birthday some time near the GP?

[mx_tifoso]

lmgtfy


And I find it interesting how every GP that's expected to be on the warm side is assumed to be great for Lotus, yet something always ends up writing them off. Besides their strategic errors, I would rather believe that the other top teams have simply evolved their tyre understandings for both colder and hotter weather, thus eliminating the advantage once presumably held by Lotus. But I would like to see a Lotus in the front two rows and see what it can do with a proper strategy.

[Jackuar]

Isn't it Alonso's birthday some time near the GP?

Not just near - exactly on race day in fact - 29th July!

[raymondu999]

When was the last time an F1 driver won a race ON his birthday? (not close, ON the day itself)

[Jackuar]

When was the last time an F1 driver won a race ON his birthday? (not close, ON the day itself)

The last one I could find was 1995 Canadian GP by Jean Alesi on June 11 - his only GP victory

Courtesy: Wikipedia

[raymondu999]

The last one "you could find!?" You actually looked at each and every race between then and now!?

[Jackuar]

Just a couple of Google searches... And I do remember the seasons from early 2000s since thats when I started following F1 and I don't remember a b'day-win since then... So just had to look for the older ones.

[raymondu999]

Just a couple of Google searches... And I do remember the seasons from early 2000s since thats when I started following F1 and I don't remember a b'day-win since then... So just had to look for the older ones.

Nevertheless - good effort.

At this point I think Alonso will be competing for the win at all the remaining races, as will the other usual suspects, such as Vettel. The cars are so close it's hard to pinpoint an area or circuit where one has an advantage over others, except for when a driver has a special affinity for a circuit. As such I can't really think of a reason why anyone of that bunch will NOT be a winner at any particular grand prix.

Mind you I don't think it'll be Alonso this weekend. I don't know of a reason why it shouldn't be him - but either through strategy, misfortune, reliability, brainfade (hey... even the best have their off-days, as they should be allowed to) I don't think we'll see Alonso on top of the podium. Just a gut feel considering how this championship seems to be widening open, whereas it seems destined to be closer than 2010, and similarly run to the wire.

[Jackuar]

Mind you I don't think it'll be Alonso this weekend. I don't know of a reason why it shouldn't be him - but either through strategy, misfortune, reliability, brainfade (hey... even the best have their off-days, as they should be allowed to)

Agreed there. Reliability, Strategy and misfortune - may be yes; but brainfade - nope, I can't imagine that would happen with FA.

However, the only logical reason I could think of why I can't expect FA to win again is that none of the top teams this year seem to be good enough, not just to win but dominate two in a row - that means not just raw performance but ticking every single box right - Strategy, reliability, performance and some luck with favourable weather and the tyres - and not scraping through to the finish line but dominate right from friday to the Chequered flag.

Only when a team manages to do that two in row, can they think of a claim to be the front-runners and until then, this season will still be anyone's to take.

JMHO.

[f1316]

What Ferrari have done so well is that they've improved all areas of the cars - as such they're there or thereabouts everywhere, even if not the very fastest car at any of them. They were always quite good in fast corners but their traction and top speed are now up there with the best, which will mean they can compete everywhere.

If it rains they're strong, and I'd like to see the rain find the race (rather than qualifying) this time, which might give MSC a chance.