24/07/2016
NEWS STORY
Should they opt not to take part in today's race, the weather gods have already provided more than enough fun this weekend, indeed, in some ways we've been spoiled for choice.
Yesterday's marathon qualifying session which included a delayed start and numerous red flags, one due to the weather conditions, the rest due to accidents, was followed, albeit several hours later, by investigations into the validity of the grid.
It was subsequently deemed that Nico Rosberg was innocent of not reducing his speed under the yellow flags, whilst Valtteri Bottas and the Red Bull and force India duos kept their grid positions courtesy of some (rare) joined-up thinking by the stewards.
Indeed, the only drivers who will start outside the positions they qualified are Ericsson, who will start from the pitlane as a new chassis was required following his Q1 crash, and Haryanto, who drops five places following a gearbox change.
Like so many of the other 'modern' circuits - we're thinking Barcelona - the Hungaroring used to be one of those track regularly associated with 'borathons', rounds of the championship that regularly provided ninety-odd minutes of tedium.
However, ever since 'Our Nige' demonstrated that it is possible to overtake here, the circuit - the oldest purpose built F1 track on the calendar - has provided us with some pretty decent entertainment.
Indeed, ignoring the fact that only thirteen of the thirty Grands Prix here have seen the pole-man go on to claim victory, and only three times since 2005, let's not forget that in 2006, winner Jenson Button started from 14th on the grid.
So, despite the obvious superiority of the Mercedes, let's not write off the event just yet.
That said, the Silver Arrows are awesome this weekend, and as Pirelli so succinctly put it yesterday... "In a sport that's thrown up some crazy situations in the past, this was one of the most mixed-up days that we've witnessed - but the end result was still a Mercedes one-two."
Quite.
While Nico Rosberg has looked the more confident all weekend, Lewis Hamilton was looking good for pole yesterday afternoon, until Fernando Alonso spoiled the party.
That said, prior to Q3, Hamilton has been looking scruffy, tending to overdrive the car, and we know from experience that from time to time he has these kind of weekends.
On Friday it appeared to be a done deal, with both Red Bulls well off the pace. However, yesterday showed a marked improvement and along with the long-run pace witnessed on Friday, Ricciardo and Verstappen could yet mount the challenge Toto and his men have been fearing.
And that's more than can be said of Ferrari, which would need the miracle of miracles if it is to repeat last year's feat. Whatever the problem is at Maranello - and we believe there are many - the Italian team is looking increasingly unsteady.
Whatever entertainment the Mercedes drivers might provide this afternoon, we are assured some decent scraps in what is a very tight midfield.
And that midfield, after a couple of seasons of hurt - though not thirty years - includes the McLaren duo, both of the Woking cars making to Q3 for the first time since Brazil 2014. Furthermore, they are there on merit.
Along with Alonso and Button, we have the Force Indias, Toro Rossos, Williams and Haas, while Renault also showed glimpses of improvement yesterday.
While we can expect some frantic battles this afternoon, spurred on by the thought that the summer hols are just around the corner, enthusiasm will need to be tempered.
As part of its continuing crack down on fun - sorry, rule breaking - the FIA is getting stricter on radio communications and track limits.
Indeed, with the aid of its sensors in Turns 4 and 11 - corners which have seen an abundance of incidents thus far - the Stewards have imposed a 'four strikes and you're out' policy.
Due to the mayhem that was qualifying, nobody had their times deleted yesterday, but today, once the lights go green, the visor falls and the adrenalin kicks in...
As at Silverstone, Pirelli is recommending the maximum number of laps each compound should be run for; in the case of the soft this is 29 laps and supersoft 14.
On this basis, the optimal pit-stop strategies are a two-stopper comprising two stints on soft of 29 laps each and one 12-lap stint on supersoft, a three-stopper comprising three stints on supersoft of 14 laps each and one 28-lap stint on soft or a three-stopper comprising two stints on soft of 24 laps each and two 11-lap stints on supersoft.
At 13:30 the pitlane opens... the drivers begin making their way out. One of the very last to arrive, making it by the skin of his teeth, is Massa who had a late scare with the steering on his car necessitating a change of steering rack.
As the national anthem is sung, evoking the memories of twelve months ago and the death of Jules Bianchi, the air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 52 degrees. Despite the blues skies, sunshine and scorchio temperatures, there is a 10% chance of rain.
As the field prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, mechanics are still working on Masa's car, the Brazilian complaining of a steering issue on his way to the grid.
All are starting on the supersofts bar Kvyat, Perez, Raikkonen, Palmer, Massa, Haryanto and Ericsson who start on soft.
They're away. Hamilton is initially away well but then allowing Rosberg to pull away as the Red Bulls and Ferrari close in.
Verstappen tries to go to the right of Hamilton and Ricciardo to the left of Rosberg, Vettel looking at the gap between the Australian and the Mercedes.
Into T1 and Hamilton has the inside line, with Rosberg alongside and Ricciardo trying to go around the outside of both of them. For the briefest of moments as they exit T1 Ricciardo has the lead, but Hamilton has the line and the Australian falls in behind.
On the charge to T2 it is Rosberg who has momentum, and the German is able to go around the outside of the Red Bull to take second.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Vettel, Alonso, Sainz, Button, Bottas and Hulkenberg.
At the end of lap 2, Hamilton is already 1.3s clear of his teammate who has the Red Bull duo on his tail.
Bottas makes short work of Button, who is passed by Grosjean, Raikkonen, Gutierrez and Perez in quick succession. "The pedal's going to the floor," he shouts.
Despite his problem, he has dropped to last, Button is told to "stay out". "Oh, fantastic," he replies.
Other than Button, who is now 4.1s behind Ericsson, the rest of the field is pretty evenly spaced out.
As Button pits, Verstappen complains: "I'm driving like a Grandma".
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.
To add to his woes, Button is being investigated for unauthorised radio communications.
As he maintains a 1.7s gap to Rosberg, Hamilton posts a series of fastest laps, the latest being 26.093.
Button is given a drive-through for the illegal radio communication.
Another fastest lap for Hamilton (25.674), as he builds a 2.153s lead.
At the end of lap 10, Button serves his penalty.
It remains: Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Vettel, Alonso, Sainz, Bottas, Hulkenberg and Grosjean.
At the end of lap 11, Nasr pits.
Raikkonen closes on Grosjean, but the (Ferrari powered) Haas driver isn't giving way.
Button very unhappy that he was punished for what he regards as a safety issue.
"So the brake pedal going to the floor isn't considered a safety issue?" he says.
At the end of lap 14, Vettel pits, as do Hulkenberg and Grosjean. The German rejoins in 8th just ahead of his teammate.
Next time around, Ricciardo, Alonso and Gutierrez pit, The Red Bull driver rejoins in 6th ahead of Vettel. However, the pair lose time behind Bottas who subsequently pits.
At the end of lap 16, Hamilton and Verstappen pit, rejoining in 2nd and 5th. However, as he rejoins, Verstappen is passed by Raikkonen. The two battle, but the Finn knows every trick in the book... and then some.
Next time around Rosberg pits, rejoining in second as Ricciardo posts a new fastest lap (25.433).
Driving like a Grandma or not, Verstappen is doing all he can to pass Raikkonen, but the Finn shows no sign of giving way to his 'elder'. This time behind the Ferrari however, is really damaging the youngster's race.
"I'm struggling for pace," complains Hamilton as Rosberg closes to within 1.144s.
Ricciardo is told that he's lapping a second quicker than the Mercedes duo. Meanwhile, Verstappen has dropped back from the rear of Raikkonen's car. Has the youngster given up or has he taken the best out of his tyres. Let's not forget that Raikkonen hasn't stopped yet.
Despite his many problems, Button is told his "pace is good compared to the midfield runners". Problem is he's around 40s behind them.
Magnussen pits at the end of lap 24, as does Kvyat.
"We need to pick the pace up a little bit," Hamilton is told. "Yes, I'm working on it," he replies.
Verstappen appears to be on a charge again, closing to within 0.6s of Raikkonen.
At the end of lap 25, Massa pits, switching to the mediums.
Maintaining a 0.5s gap to Verstappen, Raikkonen is told that his pace is good.
Kvyat is given a 5s time penalty for speeding in the pitlane. Indeed, replay shows the Russian having a massive lock-up as he entered the pitlane.
Raikkonen finally pits at the end of lap 29, switching to the supersofts.
Back on track Raikkonen is soon involved in a scrap with former teammate Alonso, though the Ferrari driver makes short work of the McLaren driver. He subsequently goes on to post a new fastest lap (24.454).
"Ricciardo is getting on to the back of this train, so we really need to increase the pace," Hamilton is told. The Briton, had slowed, suggesting that he might be deliberately putting his teammate in danger of being caught by Ricciardo. When he argues the point, he is told that if need be the team will pit Rosberg first.
Ricciardo jumps the gun and pits at the end of lap 33. The Australian sticks with the softs.
Ericsson lucky not to collect Massa when the Williams driver runs wide, the Swede picking up a place in the process.
As he hunts down Vettel, Verstappen runs wide in T11.
Vettel has problems of his own however, the German frustrated by backmarkers who are not heeding the blue flags quickly enough. One of said backmarkers is Massa.
Grosjean and Magnussen both pit at the end of lap 37.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 38, rejoining, still on softs, in sixth, behind Raikkonen.
Hulkenberg and Palmer both pit at the end of lap 39. Superb work by the Renault crew sees the two swap positions, the Briton heading the German back down the pitlane.
Perez pits at the end of lap 41, as do Hamilton and Vettel. The Briton and German rejoin in second and fifth, whilst the Force India driver loses a heap of time because his crew was not expecting him.
Next time around, Rosberg pits. Sticking with softs he rejoins in second 4.3s down on his teammate. Sainz also pits.
Alonso pits, rejoining in seventh still on the softs.
A couple of laps have passed and now Perez wants to know why his crew wasn't ready. He is told to focus on the job in hand. The inquest can come later.
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.
Vettel is getting increasingly frustrated as another backmarker (Kvyat) doesn't heed the blue flags. The Russian subsequently pits and serves his time penalty for his pitlane speeding indiscretion.
A spin in T4 sees Palmer lose a couple of positions... and an almost certain point.
Verstappen is told that he exceeded the limits at T4 and now has two warnings.
"I know, but I ran wide," says the youngster. "I lost a lot of time."
At the end of lap 50, Raikkonen pits, sticking with the supersofts.
After 50 laps, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Vettel, Verstappen, Raikkonen, Alonso, Sainz, Bottas and Hulkenberg.
Alonso is the first driver to receive the black and white flag for exceeding the track limits three times.
"Final supersoft stint for Kimi over the last 20 laps," says Pirelli. "Expect the Iceman to be flat out all the way to the finish with a great performance."
Hamilton loses time behind Gutierrez who ignores the blue flags. As the Briton gesticulates his anger, Rosberg closes in.
Gutierrez is under investigation while Alonso is told he is on his final warning.
A new fastest lap for Raikkonen (23.874) as the Finn takes full advantage of his fresh rubber. Indeed, he closes in on young Verstappen, again.
Gutierrez is handed a 5s time penalty for ignoring the blue flags.
Raikkonen makes a move on Verstappen but the Red Bull driver closes the door. The Finn makes another attack in T2, and the two touch, the Ferrari damaging its front wing endplate in the process.
Raikkonen accuses the youngster of making two changes of direction. "He moved right back to the left when I was going there!" says the Finn.
Despite the drama, Raikkonen closes in again, the two separated by just 0.556s.
Verstappen is struggling for grip and runs wide in T1, but Raikkonen isn't close enough to make a move.
Elsewhere, Vettel is closing in on Ricciardo, the Australian just 2.1s ahead of the Ferrari.
"Looks like we might have two one-stoppers in this race: Massa and Haryanto," says Pirelli.
Verstappen accuses Raikkonen of exceeding the track limits. Thing is, the Finn isn't doing it in the 'illegal' corners.
As Raikkonen pushes him ever harder, Verstappen locks up.
Button is told to pit as the team is going to retire the car. Thus the Briton will be the first retirement of the afternoon. Looks like the team used this as a test session.
Out front, Hamilton's lead is down to 0.7s as he runs wide in T12. Ricciardo, in third, is a further 16.5s behind, just 1.2s clear of Vettel.
A late pit stop for Massa, who on lap 67 takes on supersofts.
Raikkonen makes a late move on Verstappen, trying to go around the outside in T1, but runs wide and loses ground.
As Raikkonen goes wide in T11, the Finn complains that Verstappen is continuing to change direction late in reaction to his own moves.
Hamilton takes the flag, and thereby, for the first time this year, takes the lead in the championship.
Rosberg takes second and Ricciardo third, while, despite a late, late move in the final corner, Raikkonen is unable to get by Verstappen.
Alonso, Sainz, Bottas and Hulkenberg complete the top ten following what was a less than spectacular race that was essentially decided at the first corner.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of Palmer, Gutierrez, Grosjean, Magnussen, Kvyat, Nasr, Massa, Wehrlein, Ericsson and Haryanto, the hapless Button being the sole retirement of the afternoon.
"This is a great result for the team, I appreciate all the hard work thank you" says Hamilton, though the celebration seems somewhat muted.
And with that we head to Hockenheim, where Rosberg will be looking to overturn Hamilton's lead.
No doubt the German would appreciate the same sort of fan boost that his teammate enjoyed at Silverstone, but with the future of the race in doubt and interest in the sport on the wane it will be interesting to see if he gets it.
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.