Track: Hungaroring
Number of Laps: 70
Circuit Length: 2.7 miles (4.4km)
Race Length: 190.6 miles (306.7km)
Start Time: 13:00 BST
Fastest Lap: 1:19.071 (Michael Schumacher, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 2004)
2014 Pole Position: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG Petronas, 1:22.715, Intermediate Tyres
2014 Race Winner: Daniel Ricciardo, Infiniti Red Bull Racing Renault
Tyre Compounds: Soft, Medium, Intermediate, Wet
First F1 Grand Prix: 1986
Most Wins: Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton (4 each)
The Formula One world regroups this weekend for the first time since the death of Jules Bianchi. The Frenchman’s funeral will take place tomorrow, with FIA President Jean Todt, his son Nicolas (Bianchi’s manager) and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone expected to attend, as well as a huge number of drivers.
A minutes silence will be held in Bianchi’s honour before the start of the race, and the FIA announced that the ex Marussia driver’s personal number, 17, will be retired from further selection.
Jules Bianchi will be remembered before the start of the race
The show, though, must go on.
The Hungaroring will be hosting the final race before the summer break, and there are a lot of expectations to live up to following last year’s wet weather thriller and the start line shocks of Silverstone three weeks ago. On paper, the short straights and many corners mean that the chassis is more important than power – good news for struggling power unit suppliers Honda and Renault – leading to a closer field. In reality though, overtaking is extremely difficult. Last season’s surprise winner Daniel Ricciardo described the circuit as “Monaco without the walls”.
Lewis Hamilton will be one to watch this weekend. Victory for the world championship leader would see his lead extended to at least 27 points over second placed man Nico Rosberg – meaning the Brit would be able to retire from the next race in Belgium without relinquishing the top spot.
Perhaps, though, he would prefer to focus on etching his name even deeper into the history books. Another win will see him become the driver with the most victories around the Hungaroring, a stat that Hamilton will no doubt be keen to acclaim.
At the back, the two Manor Marussia boys (Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi) will want to give Jules Bianchi a great send off. A miss timed pitstop for intermediates and a spin at Becketts may well have cost Stevens a maiden points finish. The Essex born Brit worked with Bianchi when he was the team’s test driver, and will no doubt be wanting to do his utmost best to remember his former team mate’s life.
Images courtesy of Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Manor F1 Team
