Mercedes have always gone well at the Hungaroring but their performance in Sunday’s race will be a revealing test of the progress they have made with their W15.
Meanwhile Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez head into this weekend’s race hoping for a change in fortunes and more movement in the driver market for 2025 is expected. Here are the talking points for the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
Mercedes’ real test?
Suddenly, Mercedes are back. The Brackley team won the last two races in a row and appear to have thrust themselves among the championship contenders.But have they truly addressed all the W15’s weaknesses? Their greatest disadvantage prior to last weekend was their performance over a race stint and it remains to be seen whether they have addressed that.
“Hungary is probably… the test of whether or not we have got on top of our long-run performance in hot conditions, because in Barcelona and in Austria, we couldn’t match Lando or Max on the long run,” the team’s trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin told the official F1 channel. “Both those two cars were well ahead of us.
“We hopefully will have made a bit of progress. If you look at the size of the gap at those two previous races, I’d be surprised if we can pull it in that significantly. But then again, we you know, we surprised ourselves with the first stint in Silverstone.”
Then there is the Hamilton factor. With his confidence re-fired after ending a two-and-a-half year losing streak, he now heads to a track where he has always excelled.
“I love Hungary,” he said after his Silverstone win. “So I definitely am really looking forward to that, to go in there. The trajectory we’re on and the fact the car is starting to really come alive and feel great, now I can start to compete is a great feeling.”
Will Leclerc’s “nightmare” continue?
But underlying all that has been Ferrari’s development mis-step which has cost them their position as closest challenger to Red Bull. McLaren and Mercedes have displaced them at the sharp end and until Ferrari find their way again their drivers can forget about challenging for victories.
The team is expected to risk running its new floor at the Hungaroring and tolerate the bouncing they are likely to encounter in its two quickest corners. That may give them a better chance to be competitive, but whether Leclerc’s luck will turn is another matter.
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Perez cannot afford another zero
Sergio Perez’s underperformance has been a theme for several rounds. What’s different now is that Red Bull have put him on notice. Christian Horner described the situation as “unsustainable” after the British Grand Prix.
The next two races could be Perez’s last chance to persuade Red Bull not to drop him over the summer break. Qualifying has been a persistent weakness for Perez and he can ill afford another exit before Q3.
At Silverstone he pinned his hopes on getting the same specification floor as Verstappen, which Perez indicated was worth a tenth of a second or more. But he likely needs more than that to get close enough to Verstappen. Last year he finished 37 seconds behind his team mate, though that was good enough for third place when Red Bull were dominating with the RB19.
Meanwhile, those eyeing the chance to take his place have a clear opportunity to put their name top of Horner’s list. Now is surely the time for the two RB drivers to shine. Yuki Tsunoda has led the way so far while Daniel Ricciardo, who returned to F1 a year ago at this round, has blown hot and cold since then.
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Are Alpine turning things around?
Team principal Otmar Szafnauer was shown the door, long-serving sporting director Alan Permane joined him, and chief technical officer Pat Fry headed for Williams. In the 12 months since many others have followed as Bruno Famin installed himself in charge and shook up the technical division.
For all that, having been sixth in the championship with 47 points at the halfway stage last year, they have just nine points today and have fallen to eighth in the standings. Worse, ninth-place Williams moved closer to them at the last round. Sobering figures for to Carlos Sainz Jnr reflect on as the team makes its bid for his services.
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Last-minute market moves
Sainz isn’t the only driver making his mind up about his future. With the summer break approaching fast and many vacancies remaining for the 2025 F1 season, more deals may fall into place over the coming days.
Ocon, who confirmed his departure from Alpine several weeks ago, is rumoured to be considering a move to Haas, where he would form an all-new line-up with Oliver Bearman next year. That would leave Kevin Magnussen without a seat for next season.
New-look Hungaroring
While the track is unchanged, the Hungaroring has a fresh new look for its 39th Hungarian Grand Prix. The race promoters have constructed a new paddock covering 8,000 square metres.
Are you going to the Hungarian Grand Prix?
If you’re heading to Hungary for this weekend’s race, we want to hear from you:
Who do you think will be the team to beat in the Hungarian Grand Prix? Have your say below.
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2024 Hungarian Grand Prix
- Verstappen names Hungarian GP the most stressful moment of his title-winning year
- McLaren team orders “a new situation we’re inexperienced at handling” – Piastri
- Verstappen dismisses critics of “vocal” radio messages and late-night simracing
- Norris’ former McLaren team mates say he was right to give up win
- Mercedes surprised Hamilton’s car was “completely unscathed” in Verstappen clash
David
16th July 2024, 13:14
“Are Mercedes back?”, “Leclerc in a rut”, “Perez underperforming”, “Can Alpine turn it around”. Four headlines that could have been written at any point in the last three years!
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
17th July 2024, 0:59
True, but it is a fraction more efficient than writing. “Are Mercedes finally back?”, “Leclerc still in a rut”, “Perez underperforming (errrmm.. Perhaps that can be shortended to “Perez ??”), “Can Alpine ever turn it around”
Coventry Climax
16th July 2024, 13:56
Mercedes have always gone well on the hungaroring – so how does this years results reveal whether they’re on top of their issues? I’d rather think the results there probably flatter how far they’ve resolved everything?
Leclerc and Perez hope for a change in fortune? I’d say they need to really think about how big a role Mama Fortune actually plays into their recent results. In the case of Perez, I have no doubt he won’t, and blames her solely.
For Leclerc, he also needs to look at how come Sainz has done a fairly decent job in the meantime.
Even if it is a bit of an extra incentive for Sainz to get positive attention and a better negotiating position for a next employer and contract, at this level, you may expect Leclerc to show the same commitment and determination, and he looks despondent at times.
Decisive moment for Ricciardo and Tsunoda? You’d hope that at this level, the decision making process has a much broader basis than just one race. Which -at least to the outsider- makes the Mexican Pretzel’s contract extension all the more puzzling.
Alpine turning things around? Well, as the picture proves, they already frequently do. But with talk of Renault to possibly go use Mercedes engines? That’s a massive vote of unconfidence for your own organisation. I’d say they intend to permanently turn around and head for the exit, actually. We see lot’s off people jumping ship there already, despite them bringing the main rat onboard.
I’m sure the new Hungaroring paddock will improve the racing immensely. How can this even be a talking point for the coming race?
SteveP
16th July 2024, 18:14
Yeah, about that. One of the notable “achievements” of the current team principal is that he apparently headed the PU development team that produced the current PU.
So, if anyone really knows how bad it is, then he is probably the most informed info source. Of course there’s no chance of him sacking the guy responsible for the hole they are in though.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
16th July 2024, 14:18
Hungry has traditionally been a track Hamilton goes well at.
Russell is Mr Saturday and traditionally track position matters a lot in Hungry.
Mercedes could grab a good result if their car is going well this weekend. That said I’m still expecting a Max & McLarens podium come Sunday.
Ferrari really need to turn a corner as well, stop the slide which is taking them towards Aston rather than Red Bull.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
16th July 2024, 14:34
Mercedes appears to be getting back in the fight. That’s good.
Charles appears to be carrying a curse since Monaco. That’s bad.
Perez appears to have forgotten what his job is. That’s confusing.
Alpine appear ….. though none of us are sure why.
I’m not happy that Rookie Bearman might be teamed up with one of the most selfish and nasty F1 drivers ever in his first season.
Point six isn’t a point, it’s a place filler.
David BR (@david-br)
16th July 2024, 16:04
Maybe his contract says ‘stay as far away from Max as possible’? If so, good job.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
16th July 2024, 19:49
Ahah, good point! He’s surely getting his bonus in recent races!
Craig
17th July 2024, 9:41
With Red Bull being Red Bull it’s a very real possibility.
Jere (@jerejj)
16th July 2024, 16:57
Mercedes’ real test? – Maybe, but I still them to be the outright third-fastest.
Will Leclerc’s “nightmare” continue? – I hope not, but very much possible at the current rate.
Perez cannot afford another zero – Definitely, but likely in his current form.
Are Alpine turning things around? – Not really or only a little.
Last-minute market moves – Ocon’s Haas switch seems all but confirmed, with a formal announcement possible even before the upcoming round.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
16th July 2024, 19:51
Mmm, about leclerc, ferrari seems faster at slow tracks, such as monaco this year, thinking back about 2017, usually when they’re strong in monaco, they’re strong in hungary.
MichaelN
16th July 2024, 17:15
If Ferrari runs their updates here it’ll be interesting how well they do; after all, it’s a pretty slow track and they’ve been decent enough there earlier in the season while the main issue with their updates is supposedly the high speed corners. A four-way battle would be quite something! Or three-and-a-half, I guess.
Would be cool if Piastri can win it. His weakness on longer stint race pace might not matter so much here.
grat
17th July 2024, 5:15
Don’t underestimate Norris. Years ago, at a young driver test at the Hungaroring, he put in the second fastest lap time in a McLaren Honda.
Mayrton
17th July 2024, 9:11
Mercedes are already back for a number of races now, so yes. They have the 2nd fastest car behind the McLaren. Their drivers have been rather inconsistent or met bad luck (bit Leclerc like) but the car has been ready for some time now. Leclerc has a personality/mental deficit to cut it in this sport. He can only win the championship if he has over performance of his car vs the field over the entire season. Perez will suffer more and more and move even further down the field as the RedBull car is mid-field material, it’s performance to date is just flattered by Verstappen. Alpine, didn’t know they were still around.
Craig
17th July 2024, 9:45
I’d disagree Mercedes is second best. Red Bull is still best (with the Red Bull working best when it’s hot I can see the notion it’s not best car being very much put to bed this weekend if it’s as hot as implied) but not as far ahead as it was with McLaren fairly close, Mercedes currently 3rd ahead of Ferrari.