Paul Henman formula1 Grand Prix of Hungary – Race

Grand Prix of Hungary – Race

VER became the 100th different pole-sitter in F1 history. The post-Qualifying penalties bump his ex-teammate (RIC) to the very back of the grid after some engine changes; GIO received a three-place grid penalty for impeding STR in Q1.

Revised grid: VER, BOT, HAM, LEC, VET, GAS, NOR, SAI, GRO, RAI, HUL, ALB, KVY, MAG, RUS, PER, GIO*, STR, KUB, RIC*
*penalties applied for RIC and GIO.

VER has done a couple of extra practice starts on his way to the grid, as this has been a challenge in the past few races
“Car warm, tyres warm, driver warm” says VER as he heads to the front of the grid for the anthem
ALB also commented that it’s warmer than expected
Air temperature 25°C; track 45°C; humidity 35%; it’s a little cloudy but rain is unlikely

The front 6 cars are starting on medium compound tyres; the next four on softs

VER leads everyone away on the formation lap

01/70: Good start by VER
VER, BOT and HAM side by side into Turn 1
VER keeps P1
HAM takes P2 from BOT – was there contact?
LEC past BOT too

02: VER, HAM, LEC, BOT, VET, SAI, NOR, RAI, GAS, GRO, HUL, PER, ALB, RUS, KVY, MAG, STR, GIO, RIC, KUB
Piece of BOT’s front wing flies off
VET takes P4 from BOT
Radio for BOT

03: VER fastest lap 1:21.854
DRS enabled

04: Replay of BOT’s damage – it was contact with LEC that caused it

05/70: HAM f/lap 1:21.646

06: VER f/lap 1:21.542
BOT pits; new nose; hard tyres go on; rejoins P20
Radio for LEC – “we need you to push as much as you can”

08: VER has 2sec lead over HAM, who in turn is 6sec clear of LEC
BOT f/lap 1:21.400

09: HAM f/lap 1:21.293
RIC takes P17 from GIO
Radio for BOT telling him they think P6 is possible at the end of the race

10/70: VER, HAM, LEC, VET, SAI, NOR, RAI, GAS, GRO, HUL, PER, ALB, KVY, RUS, MAG, STR, RIC, GIO, KUB, BOT
RIC around the outside of STR to take P16

11: BOT takes P19 from KUB

12: MAG takes P14 from RUS

13: RIC closing on RUS

14: BOT inside STR for P17

15/70: VER, HAM, LEC, VET, SAI, NOR, RAI, GAS, GRO, HUL
BOT past RUS for P16

17: BOT closing on RIC

18: RUS and STR pit; both move to hard tyres
KVY inside teammate ALB for P12 but ALB fights back; KVY forces ALB wide and takes P12

19: PER pits; hards go on; rejoins P16

20/70: VER, HAM, LEC, VET, SAI, NOR, RAI, GAS, GRO, HUL, KVY, ALB, MAG, RIC, BOT, PER, RUS, STR, GIO, KUB
GRO pits; hards; rejoins P16

21: HAM closing on VER
RIC closing on MAG

24: HAM under 1sec behind VER as they close on PER to lap the Racing Point
PER moves aside and the top 2 lap him
Radio from HAM – “my tyres are good; I can keep going if needed”

25/70: VER, HAM, LEC, VET, SAI, NOR, RAI, GAS, HUL, ALB, MAG, RIC, BOT, PER, KVY, GRO, RUS, STR, GIO, KUB

26: VER pits from P1; hard tyres go on; rejoins P2 … and now he has to lap PER again

27: Mercedes crew ready for HAM to pit but he stays out
Radio for HAM telling him pitting now is “unsafe” (because he’d rejoin behind LEC) – “I can’t go any faster man!”

28: VER f/lap 1:20.928
LEC pits; hards; rejoins P4

29: VER on new hard tyres is quicker than HAM on old mediums
Radio reporting smoke from his front left brake

30/70: HAM, VER, VET, LEC, SAI, RAI, HUL, GAS, MAG, RIC, NOR, BOT, PER, KVY, ALB, GRO, RUS, STR, GIO, KUB
NOR all over the rear of RIC

31: HAM pits from P1; hards; rejoins P2, but now he’s 6sec behind VER
NOR takes P10 from RIC

33: BOT past RIC for P11

34: BOT now past MAG for P10

35: HAM f/lap 1:19.331 – he’s under 1sec behind VER
VER closing on ALB to lap him

37: KVY moves aside to be lapped by VER and HAM
PER is next to be lapped

39: HAM attacks VER as they lap RIC
HAM attacks again; runs wide

40/70: MAG pits, so the next to be lapped is BOT
VET pits; softs go on; rejoins P4

42: Radio for VER telling him HAM had to back off to get brake temps under control
RIC is the only one yet to make their mandatory tyre change

44: BOT moves aside to let VER and HAM lap him

45/70: VER, HAM, LEC, VET, SAI, GAS, RAI, NOR, BOT, RIC, PER, KVY, ALB, HUL, MAG, GRO, RUS, STR, GIO, KUB
NOR (P8) lapped now

47: HAM closing up on VER again; he’s within 1sec again
Radio from VER wanting to know when HAM has DRS
BOT pits; medium tyres; rejoins P12

48: Radio for HAM – “let’s just move up to VER”

49: HAM pits; mediums; rejoins still P2
Radio from VER complaining about not pitting, and radio from HAM complaining that he did 🙂

50/70: VER, HAM, LEC, VET, SAI, GAS, RAI, NOR, PER, KVY, BOT, ALB, HUL, MAG, RIC, GRO, RUS, STR, GIO, KUB

51: BOT takes P10 from KVY

52: HAM f/lap 1:19.199
GRO pits; retires
BOT takes P9 from PER

54: HAM closing to lap RAI (P7), whereas VER’s next target is VET (P4)

55/70: VER, HAM, LEC, VET, SAI, GAS, RAI, NOR, BOT, PER, KVY, ALB, HUL, MAG, RIC, RUS, GIO, STR, KUB; retirements: GRO
RIC lining up to attack MAG

56: RIC also tags the rear of MAG

57: VER maintaining 15sec lead over HAM but VER’s hard tyres are quite old

58: HAM f/lap 1:19.174
HAM laps SAI; radio for HAM telling him it’s clear air to VER

59: HAM f/lap 1:18.668; gap down to 13sec
Radio from RIC complaining about MAG moving in the braking zone

60/70: HAM f/lap 1:18.566; gap 12sec
Radio for HAM telling him VER will be down to zero rubber at the end of the race

61: HAM f/lap 1:18.528; gap 10.5sec

62: RIC locks up as he tries to find a way around MAG – they’re fighting over P14

63: HAM within 7.5sec of VER
VER pushing hard but his tyres are going off

64: Radio from VER – “tyres are dead”; “copy”
BOT takes P8 from NOR

65/70: VER, HAM, LEC, VET, SAI, GAS, RAI, BOT, NOR, PER, ALB, KVY, HUL, MAG, RIC, RUS, STR, GIO, KUB
HAM 3.1sec behind VER
Radio for VER telling him he has 4sec of boost for each of the remaining 4 laps

66: HAM 1.024sec behind VER, so he’ll get DRS any moment

67: HAM just feet behind VER; attacks into Turn 1; around the outside of VER to take P1
ALB takes P10 from PER

68: VER pits; soft tyres; still easily P2 (58sec gap to LEC)
VET within DRS range of LEC
VET inside LEC, forces him wide and takes P3

70/70: VER f/lap 1:17.103

HAM takes the chequered flag; his 81st win

Provisional result: HAM, VER*, VET, LEC, SAI, GAS, RAI, BOT, NOR, ALB; PER, HUL, MAG, RIC, KVY, RUS, STR, GIO, KUB
DNF: GRO
*Fastest lap: VER

I like the beach theme in the cooldown / pre-podium room; are the deckchairs in case Alonso turns up? 🙂

Good to see Mercedes’ chief strategist James Vowles on the podium – that was what really won it for them.

That’s it for a few weeks – there’s an official break before Spa (Belgium) race weekend, Aug29-Sep01.

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