The Hungaroring is a strange place that always seems to produce unexpected results. But what do you need to do to win around here? We asked three people who’ve done the business in Budapest.
Heikki Kovalainen. Winner 2008
It was a surprise victory for me last year, but I think I had a fairly strong weekend. I was strong all the way through the practice sessions, and I qualified in second place. In the race it’s fair to say that Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa would have been ahead of me if they hadn’t had problems.
You need to qualify high, that’s the priority; so in practice on Friday and Saturday you really need to become confident with the car – as close to 100 per cent as possible so that you know you can attack in qualifying. Then, obviously, we always have the softest tyre compounds here, they can be fragile, so you have to look after those. I think those are the important factors.
I’ve heard people say that you have to be more focussed here because there isn’t a break in the lap with a long straight. I’m not sure about that. I think you need to be alert everywhere else as well. If it isn’t mentally hard, then you’re going too slowly. Here what you need is a good with the gears and the brakes and the power; especially at the top of the hill. You need a good flow to get it right.
It is very difficult to overtake – even with the KERS. Turn One is just about the only opportunity you get. The straight lines are not long enough and there is not enough room; the shape of the corners is not such that you can outdrag and outbrake each other because the corners just keep coming one after the other. It’s quite easy to defend; and you lose downforce behind the other car as well. After the start and the first corner you’re pretty much stuck in the place you’re in.
Rubens Barrichello. Winner 2002
I think I won the race from qualifying first; and then I got a great start. I pushed when I had to push and I got the tyres working for me. That’s what you have to do to win here. Qualifying is 99 per cent of the job. It’s the toughest place to overtake – after Monaco – of the whole season. So everything is decided on Saturday.
The key points this weekend are the heat, and how you treat the tyres – and that really is it. I hope it stays hot, which should fix the problems Brawn have had over the last two races.
Damon Hill. Winner 1993, 1995
The Hungaroring is probably the track I’d like to roll up and take home with me. It’s often said that it’s too small for F1 cars, but stand at the back of the paddock and look down on it: it’s a big track with lots of driving.
Turn One is tricky; there’s a big drop from the straight into the braking area, which means you’re braking downhill, turning into a corner that drops away from you. And that makes the car lighter. You can get on the power quite early and sling-shot into the next corner. It’s like driving at Monaco, but without the barriers.
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