31/07/2005
NEWS STORY
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With little chance of rain today, there are two main factors that we must consider ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix - three if you consider the possibility of Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya eliminating one another at the first corner.
As ever, the first thing we must consider is strategy, with many saying that pole-man Michael Schumacher is running light and therefore on a three-stop strategy. At the post race press conference the Colombian seemed very confident, however Ross Brawn is, without doubt, the best strategist in the pitlane.
The other thing to consider is the 'Trulli factor'. It's well known that it is virtually impossible to overtake here, though we all remember that wonderful move Nigel Mansell made on Ayrton Senna - courtesy of Stefan Johansson - back in 1989. Indeed, that was the only time in the history of the Hungarian event that a driver starting outside the first five places on the grid has won the race.
The best example of how notorious this circuit is - even after its revamp - is to go back to 1990 when Thierry Boutsen made life - and overtaking - absolutely impossible for Ayrton Senna, the Belgian holding up the Brazilian for lap after lap after lap, eventually crossing the line to win by 0.288s. All the Williams driver had to do was keep his car on the line, the onus was on Senna, who as we all know was no slouch and up there with the best of them when it came to balls-out racing.
Add to this the fact that contemporary aerodynamics regulations make overtaking even more difficult that in the early 90s, and you'll understand why today's start is so important.
In recent races, Jarno Trulli has become a (high speed) mobile chicane and therefore anyone behind him at the first corner today, and that will probably include World Championship leader Fernando Alonso, can give up any hope of challenging for the win. Therefore, it's not simply about what Michael and Juan Pablo get up to at the first corner, it's about who fails to get past Trulli's Toyota.
Even before the warm-up lap there's drama, as Montoya driver over a BAR generator as he takes his place on the grid. He damages the vanes on his car but they are quickly replaced. Question is, was there any other damage?
As the drivers wait on the grid to begin the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 34 degrees C, while the track temperature is 47 degrees. It's hot!
They head off on the war-up lap, everyone getting away cleanly. Nobody is starting from the pitlane.
Michael gives it some serious 'welly', as he takes his place on the grid.
Michael makes a brilliant start as does Montoya, while Raikkonen gets ahead of Trulli and the Colombian. However, further back there's a collision which sees Klien's Red Bull somersault off the track - he appeared to touch wheels with Villeneuve.
At the end of the first lap, Barrichello and Alonso pit, having touched at the first corner, though they were not involved in the Klien incident. Sadly for the Milton Keynes team David Coulthard is also out having spun off after losing a wheel running over Alonso's wing which was in the middle of the track.
Schumacher leads Raikkonen by 1.9s, with Montoya a further 2.4s down the road.
The worrying thing is that there are shards of carbon fibre on the track, but no signs of a red flag or even the safety car.
Raikkonen closes on Michael, as Montoya drops 3.2s behind the leaders. Meanwhile, Alonso is back in seventeenth.
Trulli is fourth, ahead of Ralf, Button, Sato, Heidfeld, Fisichella and Massa.
Raikkonen goes quickest in sector one, but Michael responds in sector two, the German posting a new fastest lap (21.673). Next time around the Finn responds with a 1:21.610.
Another fastest lap for Raikkonen on lap 7 (21.488), as the rest of the field begins to spread out, though the Finn is just 1s behind the race leader.
Michael responds (21.479), as Montoya falls 6.9s behind Raikkonen. Further back, Barrichello and Alonso (sixteenth and seventeenth) pursue Doornbos.
On lap nine it's Kimi that goes quickest (21.238), as he closes to within 0.7s of the World Champion. The only other real battle is for eighth, with Heidfeld trying to fend off Fisichella and Massa. Barrichello has got past Doornbos, but Alonso hasn't. As we said before, the onus is on the pursuer.
At the end of lap 11, its Raikkonen that pits, whereas everyone was expecting Michael to be the first to stop. He rejoins in fifth. Barrichello gets past Albers and sets off after Karthikeyan.
At the end of lap 12, Michael leads Montoya by 9.6s, with Trulli a further 4.2s behind. Ralf is fourth, ahead of Raikkonen, Button, Sato, Heidfeld, Fisichella and Massa.
Fastest man on track is Michael, who is the only man lapping in the 1:21s.
At the end of lap 13, Trulli pits, which comes as a great relief to those stuck behind him. Hew rejoins in sixth, splitting the BARs.
At the end of lap 15, Michael pits, as does brother Ralf. The Ferrari driver rejoins in second, ahead of Raikkonen.
Therefore, after 16 laps, Montoya leads Michael by 13.9s, with Raikkonen a further 3s down the road. Button, who has yet to stop, is fourth, ahead of Ralf, Trulli, Sato and Heidfeld.
The Colombian is the only driver running in the 1:21s, as Michael loses a whole second to Raikkonen.
Montoya is pushing hard, as he extends his lead to 18s, he continues to lap in the 1:21s.
Outside the top ten Villeneuve is running eleventh, ahead of Webber, Barrichello, Alonso, Karthikeyan and Doornbos.
Montoya posts a new fastest lap (21.237) as he extends his lead to 19.2s, meanwhile, Raikkonen is still 1.5s behind the Ferrari.
At the end of lap 21, Sato pits from seventh. Next time around it's race leader Montoya that pits.
The Colombian rejoins behind both Michael and Kimi, clearly he hadn't built up enough of a cushion.
After 22 laps, only Button, Heidfeld, Fisichella, Massa and Villeneuve - of the top ten - haven't stopped.
That said, at the end of lap 23 Button pits as does Fisichella. The Englishman rejoins in eighth, behind Massa, who has yet to stop.
Raikkonen closes to within 0.7s of Michael, as Montoya falls 3s behind his teammate. Villeneuve is all over Button, while Barrichello is hounding Sato.
At the end of lap 25, Massa pits, as Barrichello gets it all wrong at final corner, which allows Fisichella through, and also Alonso to close in.
Of the top ten runners, Heidfeld (sixth), Villeneuve (eighth) and Webber (ninth) have yet to stop.
At the end of lap 27, Heidfeld pits, as does Villeneuve. The two Red Bulls remain the only retirements, both having gone out on the first lap.
It's all over for Doornbos, who pulls off track in the Minardi. Elsewhere, Alonso has made his first scheduled stop of the day, the Spaniard now running in fourteenth. Webber finally stops at the end of lap 29.
Raikkonen continues to shadow Michael, the gap closes then extends, but is never more than a second.
Sato (eighth), Fisichella and Barrichello are now running as one, as they pursue Heidfeld, who is 16s up the road.
The front three are matching one another's times, however, the two Toyotas are the quickest cars on track.
Raikkonen closes right in on Michael, as Trulli makes his second stop of the afternoon, as does Barrichello, who rejoins between the two Saubers.
At half distance, Michael leads by 0.6s with Montoya 9.6s down the road. Ralf is fourth, ahead of Trulli, Button, Heidfeld, Sato, Fisichella and Webber.
Ralf pits at the end of lap 35, as the Ferrari crew prepares for Michael, who stops at the end of lap 36.
The German rejoins in third, behind the two McLarens, as Raikkonen sets a personal best in the first sector.
At the end of lap 37 the Finn pits, all eyes are on Schumacher who is exiting the final corner. The McLaren exits the pitlane ahead of the Ferrari, but it appeared to be a very, very short stop.
Therefore, Montoya leads by 9s, though he has yet to make his second stop. Meanwhile Michael is 2.1s behind the Finn.
One two successive laps, Raikkonen is quickest in the final sector, while Michael's pace has clearly dropped off - his last lap was 23.99 compared to the Finn's 21.29.
On lap 40, Kimi posts a new fastest lap (21.219) as he extends the gap over Michael to 6s.
However, there's drama for McLaren as Montoya gradually slows, his race clearly over. He slowly makes his way back to the pits. The Colombian is sporting a new helmet design, but it's the same old mechanical woe for the Woking team. Thing is, can Raikkonen last?
Raikkonen now leads Michael by 17s, who is 13.8s ahead of Ralf. The Ferrari continues to lap well over a second slower than the leading McLaren.
Fisichella gets it all wrong and makes a detour through the gravel, which allows Webber through to take eighth - both WilliamsF1 in the points.
It's all over for Massa who stops in his pit with smoke pouring out of the back of his car.
With 44 laps completed, Raikkonen leads by 20.7s, as he continues to lap almost 2s a lap quicker than Michael. The Finn is setting an electric pace, but is he pushing too hard? As Ralf closes to within 12s of his brother, one has to wonder whether Michael can hold on to second place.
Behind the top three, Trulli is running fourth, ahead of Button, Heidfeld, Sato, Webber, Fisichella and Barrichello. Alonso is eleventh.
At the end of lap 47, Button pits, as Michael finally appears to up his pace.
Next time around it's Kimi Raikkonen that pits, remaining stationary for 7.1s. He rejoins in front of Michael, who still has to make another stop.
Despite his 'fire', Felipe Massa is back on track.
At the end of lap 52, Fisichella (eighth) pits, as des Trulli, who has been setting a strong pace in fourth.
After 54 laps, Raikkonen leads Michael by 8.8s, with Ralf Schumacher a further 7.9s down the road. That said, next time around, both Ralf and Heidfeld (fifth) pit, as does Villeneuve.
At the end of lap 56, Barrichello pits, as does Alonso, the two drivers fighting for ninth.
At the end of lap 57, Michael pits, rejoining still in second, just 4.4s ahead of his brother.
Therefore, after 58 laps, Raikkonen leads Michael by 32.6s, with Ralf third, ahead of Trulli, Button, Heidfeld, Webber, Sato, Fisichella and Barrichello.
It's all over for Villeneuve who pulls off track in the Sauber, smoke pouring out of the back of the car.
Michael is matching Kimi for pace, however, the Finn has a 33s advantage. It looks like, for once, Brawn has been out-done in the strategy department. Furthermore, Ralf is just 3s behind the Ferrari driver.
Barring accidents, mechanical failures, acts of God or sheer bloody stupidity, the order appears settled, with no major changes to the running order seemingly on the cards. That said, Fisichella is closing in on Sato, who is hoping to snatch his first point of the year. Alonso is also giving Barrichello a hard time.
Ralf closes to within 1.4s second of his brother, however, at the Hungaroring, catching and passing are tow entirely different things.
Ralf attempts to get a 'draft' from his brother, as he closes to within 0.6s of the Ferrari. Backmarkers struggle to get out of the way of the battle - wary of getting involved in the 'Schumacher domestic'.
Sato appears to be 'safe' in eighth, as Fisichella drops back.
On the penultimate lap, Fisichella pits, a pretty awful day fro the French team as the Italian needs a 'splash and dash'.
Kimi takes a well-deserved win, though McLaren will be rueing the fact that it wasn't a one-two. Michael takes second, glad that his brother was unable to find a way past, while Toyota and WilliamsF1 will be delighted to have both cars in the points - as will BAR.
Raikkonen closes to within 26 points of Alonso, while Michael is only six points down on the Finn.
However, in the Constructors' Championship, McLaren closes to within 12 points of Renault, as the French team suffers its second points 'lock-out' of the season, compared to McLaren which hasn't suffered any. Naturally we don't include Indianapolis.
Although the 'Summer break' begins today, you can bet your life that teams will not be downing tools and heading to the sun for a couple of weeks. At Woking, in particular, there will be a post-mortem into today's race, as the Woking teams attempts to solve its reliability issues once and for all. Winning is fine, but in order to win titles both cars need to be fully reliable at all times. Then again, clearly Renault have much to do.
Although nine of the teams will not be testing over the next few weeks, you can be certain that Ferrari and Bridgestone will be hard at it, with Messrs Badoer, Gene and possibly Schumacher, pounding out the laps at Fiorano and Mugello.
Today was a great result for Toyota, which sees the Japanese team consolidate fourth spot in the Constructors' Championship, and Trulli move into fourth position in the Drivers' Championship.
How ironic, that BAR and WilliamsF1 - both involved in a tug-of-war for the services of Jenson Button - get both cars into the points.
Not a great race, but then again, not as bad as it might have been, and today's (almost) topsy-turvy result sets up the remainder of the championship perfectly. It still appears to be a two-horse race, between Alonso and Raikkonen, however, as we've seen here today, with the Spaniard finishing eleventh, a lap down on his championship rival, things can change very quickly.
It's never over until the plump female starts warbling, and right now she's simply clearing her throat.