Hungary: The Pilots’ Perspective

In 1986, Hungary made history in Formula One by becoming the first country to host a Grand Prix beyond the Iron Curtain, one of the harbingers of the future decline of the Soviet Empire. Twenty-six years after the first edition, the Hungarian Grand Prix is still on the calendar of the leading discipline in motorsports, although the characteristics of the Hungaroring are not expected to favor the spectacle.

The Hungarian circuit, nestled in the northeastern outskirts of Budapest, appeals to drivers, partly because of the challenge it presents: The Hungaroring is one of the most difficult circuits on the calendar. Technically, it’s a real test and it’s quite a slow lap, which reminds me a bit of Monaco in some aspects. It’s also physically demanding because the temperatures are often high, and there is a lot of work to do behind the wheel, so you get tired quickly, says Bruno Senna (Williams).

Mark Webber (Red Bull), who believes that the second sector is very, very demanding for the driver and that a good balance at the top of the hill is essential, agrees with the Brazilian: The track itself is one of the slowest of the season, but as a driver, it should not be underestimated because there are many opportunities to make mistakes. Moreover, there are many bumps, so you are shaken very frequently. For Nico Hülkenberg (Force India), the Hungaroring indeed leaves no room for error: Although it is quite a slow circuit, it is very difficult to make a good lap because you have to string all the corners together perfectly, so it is quite complicated.

If for Paul di Resta (Force India), the Hungaroring is very demanding for the driver, both physically and mentally, Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) never gets bored driving a F1 on the Hungarian track: I’m looking forward to this race weekend because I love the Hungarian Grand Prix. It’s a circuit where the drivers are busy throughout the entire lap, it’s really demanding and there is almost no moment to catch your breath.

Temperatures, often scorching in Budapest at this time of year, don’t help matters: « Sometimes the heat can be intense, much like in Valencia, » notes Timo Glock (Marussia). « Physically, it can be very tiring, especially if this weather persists throughout the weekend. »

Thus, for Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus), it’s only when you win that you don’t suffer on the Hungaroring. And the 2007 world champion adds: It’s such a slow and twisty circuit that there are two extremely important things for achieving fast laps: good corner entry and good traction. If you have that, you have a competitive car there.

Like Bruno Senna, many drivers do not hesitate to make the comparison with the Monaco circuit: The Hungaroring is a very special track. It’s a bit like the Monaco street circuit with lots of direction changes, and the second sector is particularly tricky, analyzes Sergio Pérez (Sauber), while Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) especially notes the presence of tight and winding corners and few straight lines. For Paul di Resta, all the corners seem to flow smoothly, so you have to find the right rhythm.

This is all the more important because, as the Scotsman points out, due to the nature of the circuit, there have never been many overtakes. DRS will therefore be a decisive factor in the race, but qualification will also be crucial according to Fernando Alonso: Budapest is a very special, short, and twisty circuit. I imagine there could be a gap of two or three tenths between the top ten in qualifying. Therefore, it will be important to prepare well for this race, and we must have a perfect weekend without making any mistakes. Not starting at the front could become a disaster.

Kimi Räikkönen shares the opinion of his successor at Ferrari and emphasizes the importance, particularly in Budapest, of grid positioning where it is often customary to see drivers on the odd side of the track get a better start than those on the even side: « It’s one of those circuits where overtaking is very difficult. Obviously, you need to be in front in qualifying, and ideally, you also want to avoid the dirty side of the track. […] It wouldn’t be the end of the world if we don’t qualify in front, but it won’t make things easier for us either. »

But beyond the circuit and the challenges it imposes on the drivers, for Sebastian Vettel, it’s above all the atmosphere and the setting of the race that he prefers: « The Budapest race is very popular, and the city along with the Danube offers many opportunities for fans outside the circuit. I really like the city, and I made my debut in 2007 with Scuderia Toro Rosso at the Hungaroring. »

For Kimi Räikkönen, the Grand Prix will feel like a home race: « It’s always nice to see the blue and white flag [of Finland] in the stands. This is the closest we get, as Finnish drivers, to a home race, and many Finns are present every year. »

Timo Glock also feels comfortable in Hungary: I’ve always felt something special to the point of almost feeling like it’s my second home race. I have a lot of fans, especially since my first F1 podium there in 2008. Every time, I look forward to this event because, for some reason, I seem to acclimate to the track very quickly and I’ve always had good races because of it.

But for the drivers, starting with the 2007 world champion, Hungary also signals the beginning of the holidays: « It is also the last race before the summer break and it’s a great city to finish the first part of the season. » It will be an opportunity for Nico Hülkenberg to do some sightseeing and discover the dark and rich history of Budapest: « I’m looking forward to it because I love the city of Budapest; it’s just a nice place to visit. »