05/08/2007
NEWS STORY
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What with the ongoing espionage/sabotage saga, and now the furore that has broken out as a result of the incident during qualifying, it comes as no surprise to hear that some long-time F1 fans are growing heartily sick of the sport.
Overnight, and this morning, we have received e-mails from fans around the world expressing their dismay at the direction the sport is taking.
Sadly, we are unable to argue, as we at Pitpass are equally concerned.
In the days leading up to the Hungary event we are constantly reminded how vital pole position is, since overtaking is nigh impossible. Without resorting to mentioning Nigel Mansell's stunning move on Ayrton Senna in 1989, one only had to watch this morning's GP2 race to see that this is utter codswallop - to put it mildly.
It is not the circuit that makes overtaking difficult at the Hungaroring, it is the current F1 regulations. Be it the rules regarding diffuser design, aero grip as opposed to mechanical, the two-race engine nonsense or merely the current points system… contemporary F1 has made racing at the Hungaroring what it is, a parade, with most of the excitement originating off-track rather than on.
The events of the last twelve hours, in particular, leave a bitter taste in the mouth, and regrettably it is unlikely that we are going to get a race capable of washing the taste away.
We could go into the usual preamble regarding fuel loads, tyre strategy, the high risk of an incident at the 'notorious' first corner and so on, but in many respects this race has been tainted. In all honesty, the best thing for the sport right now would be for someone outside the 'big four' to win today, possibly Nick Heidfeld, or maybe Rosberg or Kubica.
At the moment F1 is showing itself in the worst possible light, and though we have grown used to the Machiavellian plotting, the chicanery, and backstabbing, recently events have got out entirely of hand.
Bernie Ecclestone is forever wondering why football is so popular, why F1 doesn't appeal to the masses. Hopefully - though we doubt it - the events of the last couple of weeks will give him a clue. Yes, football is tainted, much like any other business posing as sport, however, when the whistle blows the game begins.
At this point in time, with the McLaren espionage saga hanging over the sport, we don't know what direction the championship will be taking, far less what the standings will be after today's race, since the Woking team is appealing the stewards decision to exclude them from the points today.
It was predicted that today's race would be hit by rain, giving Jenson Button cause to believe that he might repeat his 2006 feat. However, despite the bright sunshine, the soaring temperatures, there's a big black cloud hanging over the circuit and it's going to take something pretty special to make it move away.
As the field prepares to head off on the parade lap, the air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 43 degrees. It is sunny and hot, however, like yesterday there is a strong breeze hitting some parts of the 2.722 mile circuit.
Hamilton leads the field way on the warm-up lap. All 22 are starting from the grid, nobody opting to start from the pitlane. Virtually everyone is one the hard(er) option, as opposed to the supersoft, which we will refer to as soft.
They're away! It's a poor start from Heidfeld, who loses at least one place. However, they all get through the first series of corner cleanly, with only one of the Hondas going a little wide. The parade, sorry race, is on!
At the end of the first lap Hamilton leads Raikkonen by 1.6s, while Alonso goes wide at the final corner, the Spaniard struggling for grip. At the end of the next lap however, he passes Webber to take seventh.
Behind Hamilton, it's Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Schumacher, Kubica, Alonso, Webber, Kovalainen and Coulthard. Massa has dropped to sixteenth, having been passed by Sato.
As Hamilton extends his lead to 3s, Alonso nails Kubica, the Spaniard really on a charge.
Hamilton and Raikkonen are the only drivers lapping in the 1:21s, as the Finn builds a 3s comfort cushion over Heidfeld.
It's all over for Yamamoto, whose Spyker debut ends in the tyre wall when the Japanese driver spins off. We don't think he'll be the last 'spinner' this afternoon.
On lap 6, Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap as he closes to within 3.3s of the race leader. Meanwhile, Schumacher, who is 1.7s down on Rosberg, has his mirrors full of McLaren as Alonso prepares to pounce. Massa, who is clearly running heavy, holds station behind Sato.
Raikkonen continues to set a blistering pace, taking a further 0.2s out of Hamilton's lead. At the other end of the field, only Sutil is preventing the Hondas from being the backmarkers.
Hamilton hits back with a new fastest lap (20.859), as Heidfeld falls to 7s behind Raikkonen. Coulthard, in tenth, has Fisichella and Trulli in hot pursuit.
Out front, Hamilton and Raikkonen are trading fastest sector times, the gap between them still round the 3s mark. Elsewhere, Fisichella goes wide, which allows Trulli through.
On lap 13, Hamilton posts another fastest lap (20.171), while Raikkonen loses pace, allowing the gap to increase to 4.6s. Heidfeld remains 7.5s behind the Finn, but 6.9s ahead of Rosberg. Sato now has Massa and Liuzzi on his tail, with Vettel closing in.
On lap 18, the McLaren crew assembles in the pitlane… as Fernando Alonso makes his first stop of the afternoon. Heidfeld and Rosberg also stop. It was a long stop for the Spaniard (again!!) so we can expect a long second stint.
Next time around, Schumacher pits. Meanwhile, Hamilton now leads Raikkonen by 3.9s.
At the end of the next lap both Hamilton and Raikkonen stop, as does Kubica. The Englishman returns to the race still leading, ahead of Raikkonen and Webber, who pits at the end of the next lap, as do Trulli and Liuzzi.
Kovalainen, who has yet to stop, is up to fourth, ahead of Rosberg, Coulthard, Kubica, Schumacher, Alonso and Webber.
A minor moments for Raikkonen who gets a little crossed up. However, a strong 'out lap' means the gap to Hamilton is now down to 1.9s.
Behind tenth placed Webber, Davidson is eleventh, ahead of Wurz, Sato and Massa, though all four have yet to stop.
One of the fastest men on track right now is Kovalainen, who, in addition to being on the soft option, has yet to stop.
As Raikkonen closes to within 1.5s of the race leader, Heidfeld falls to 12.8s behind the Finn and into the clutches of Rosberg, who is only 5.3s behind.
At the end of lap 26, Coulthard finally stops. Next time around Kovalainen and Sutil both pit.
Raikkonen closes to within 0.8s of Hamilton, as Alonso continues to hold station behind sixth-placed Schumacher.
At the end of lap 29, Wurz pits, which means that only Davidson, Sato, Massa, Vettel and Button have yet to stop. That said, next time around Davidson pits, as does Button. As Davidson leaves the pits there's a bit of a moment with Wurz.
Vettel finally pits at the end of lap 32, as does Rosberg, who is making his second stop of the afternoon. Sato finally pits also.
Hamilton loses a little time, locking up heavily, when he encounters Sato, who is leaving the pits. This, of course, is good news for Raikkonen. Elsewhere, Alonso goes well wide, but holds onto sixth position.
At the halfway point, it's Hamilton, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Kubica, Schumacher, Alonso, Webber, Rosberg, Kovalainen and Coulthard. Massa is running eleventh, 0.8s behind the Scot.
At the end of lap 35, Massa finally pits, the last driver to do so. He rejoins in fourteenth, but directly ahead of Hamilton on track.
2006 winner Jenson Button pulls off track, a miserable end to a miserable weekend, and with no sign of a revival in sight. If the RA107 was a racehorse, someone would be calling for a veterinary surgeon.
After receiving his second blue flag, Massa moves aside, allowing Hamilton and Raikkonen through. The Brazilian now sets about chasing after Wurz, who is 7.5s up the road.
At the end of lap 41, Heidfeld pits, with Webber having stopped on the previous lap. The German rejoins ahead of Schumacher. Fisichella also pitted.
Calamity! Davidson spins at Turn 2 and beaches the Super Aguri. It's all over for the English driver. The replay shows that there was a coming together with Fisichella. Elsewhere, Kubica has pitted.
As David Coulthard makes his second stop of the afternoon, Liuzzi drivers straight into the Toro Rosso garage, his day's work at an end. Maybe there'll be time for a quick work out with Franz 'The Terminator' Tost.
Fernando Alonso continues to circulate behind Schumacher, as Kimi Raikkonen makes his second stop of the afternoon at the end of lap 46. The Finn switches to the softer option.
Coulthard, in fourteenth, is told to "keep his head" down. "It's a gamble, but it could be worth it," he's assured.
At the end of lap 48, Schumacher pits, which releases Alonso. Meanwhile, Hamilton, who still has to stop, goes quickest in the final sector. Kovalainen (seventh) also pits.
At the end of lap 50, Hamilton finally pits, putting on a (scrubbed) set of the soft tyres. Moments later Alonso also stops. The Spaniard also switches to the soft compound.
Vettel and Massa both pit, with 19 laps remaining.
Hamilton now leads Raikkonen by 4.4s, with Heidfeld a further 11.9.s behind. Kubica is fourth, ahead of Rosberg, Alonso, Schumacher and Webber.
Massa looks destined to finish exactly where he started, fourteenth, as the Brazilian shadows Wurz.
At the end of lap 54, Heidfeld makes his third stop of the afternoon. He rejoins in fifth, behind his BMW teammate. Elsewhere, Raikkonen goes wide and kicks up a little dust.
Rosberg makes his final stop at the end of lap 56, with Kubica stopping next time around.
Consequently, Heidfeld is back in third position, ahead of Alonso, Kubica and Schumacher.
Raikkonen closes to within 5.5s of Hamilton as the Englishman prepares to pass Trulli. Elsewhere, Webber makes his third stop of the afternoon, thereby promoting Rosberg to seventh.
Alonso has closed right up on Heidfeld, the Spaniard clearly determined to take the third place on the podium. Following his pit stop, Webber is now running ninth, with Kovalainen (currently) the last of the points winners.
At this point - no pun intended - the race stewards announce that McLaren will not be allowed to participate in the podium ceremony as a constructor. It's drivers will, but McLaren cannot. In other words, more sad b****cks!.
As Barrichello's miserable afternoon continues - the Brazilian running last behind Sutil - Jock Clear sympathises. "We're feeling your pain," says the Scot.
In his efforts to pass Heidfeld, Alonso goes wide. Points, podiums, pit stops… none of it matters, this is personal, it's about pride!
As they begin the last lap, Raikkonen appears to ease off, though Alonso continues to pressurise Heidfeld.
Hamilton takes his third win of the year, and at the same time reasserts his lead in the World Championship.
Raikkonen takes second, posting the fastest lap of the race on the very last lap, ahead of Heidfeld, Alonso, Kubica, Schumacher, Rosberg, Kovalainen and Webber.
Not a lot to say really, a tedious race which once again fails to live up to the hype. The late announcement that McLaren would not be allowed to participate in the podium ceremony merely ensures that the bitter taste remains.
No disrespect to Lewis and friends, but this was not Formula One's finest hour.
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