Qualifying
Qualifying projections take the average FP2 to Qualifying time multiplier throughout the season. Recently, McLaren and Force India’s times, in particular, have been inaccurate but should be improved now because a total of anomalous multipliers have been disregarded. Each team’s range is approximately +/- 0.005% which works out as 0.4 seconds around the Hungaroring, so you know how hopeful to be for your favourite team below:
The updates Qualifying multipliers are as follows:
Which means the qualifying order is as follows:
| Team | Fastest time |
| Mercedes | 1:18.81 |
| Red Bull | 1:19.29 |
| Ferrari | 1:20.09 |
| Williams | 1:20.67 |
| Force India | 1:20.75 |
| Toro Rosso | 1:21.13 |
| McLaren | 1:21.23 |
| Haas | 1:21.29 |
| Renault | 1:21.89 |
| Sauber | 1:21.98 |
| Manor | 1:22.80 |
This bodes well for Williams who are also fitting a new floor for Saturday.
Force India able to outperform a nimble Toro Rosso on an aero-demanding circuit.
Red Bull may be further behind Mercedes as Hamilton did not set a time on the Super Soft tyre.
The lap record of 1:18.436 is beatable but will take an exceptional lap from one of the Mercedes.
Circuits seem to be either hit or miss for Manor. This one is a big miss.
FP2 long run stints
Soft Tyre
*Lines return to zero at the end of stints.
The P Zero soft tyre proved to be very durable, most impressively under control by Kimi Raikkonen who managed to lap considerably faster after 19 laps than initially.
Rosberg in a league of his own up front followed by Red Bull.
Rosberg is able to lap a second per lap faster than his closest challenger.
In their long runs, Hulkenberg, to begin with, is able to keep close to Raikkonen however the Finn has lower tyre wear and stretches away.
Magnussen shows the Renault can beat Haas on Sunday.
Super Soft Tyre
Vettel ran the Super Soft later in the session and would’ve had around 20 laps less fuel (0.8 seconds per lap worth) than the Red Bull’s. Renault, for some strange unknown reason, ran Magnussen with minimal fuel.
Verstappen ran the Super Soft first and impressively lapped substantially faster than Ricciardo who admitted he needs to improve his race pace in comparison with his 18-year-old teammate.
The McLarens are able to contest the Force India’s and Williams’.
Red Bull, and everyone else (excluding Williams) will be counting on a wet race to contend for the lead battle.
Finally, the average drop off through the field for each tyre. No drivers ran the medium tyre.
