Magyar Nagydij – 2006

[Blake]

MAGYAR NAGYDIJ – 2006

Mass Dampers

First thing is first, Renault (and presumably, any other team that uses them) will be running their cars with Mass Dampers this weekend. The FIA has advised that teams who run these devices at Hungary will not be punished – regardless of the result at the Court of Appeal hearing.

Whether or not this recommendation was given by the FIA, I suspect that Renault may have started using them again, anyway. They cannot afford to lose the championship on track. In my opinion, it would be better to keep scoring big points and then take the risk of an FIA penalty.

Alas, it’s a pointless argument for the moment, while they are still “allowed” to be used.

EDIT: STR have been told to remove them by the stewards as they believe they are now illegal, so perhaps Renault will follow suite, and wait to hear the results of the Court of Appeal hearing.

Jacques Villeneuve to Sit Out the Hungarian Grand Prix

JV will be sitting on the sidelines this weekend, as he apparently recovers from his accident at Hockenheim. He’ll be replaced by BMW Sauber test driver Robert Kubica. Robert will be the first Pole to race in F1.

Grand Prix Preview

Typically the most boring race of the season, the Hungarian GP comes at the most exciting point in the 2006 championship battle. The big question at the moment is whether or not Michael Schumacher can pull of Alonso’s four-wins-in-a-row trick, by clinching his 5th win at the Dust Bowl.

Alonso, while he did win his first GP here, didn’t get a good here in 2005. Despite being unlucky, he did admit that the car was off the pace here in 2005, so it will be interesting to see if Renault have a competitive package this weekend.

Incidentally, Michael Schumacher claimed pole position and finished 2nd at this circuit in 2005. So it is possible that we will see further Ferrari domination.

This will probably be a good race for McLaren, also, who have a car that seems to perform very well in high downforce circuits like this, and Monaco. Especially after the good pace that Räikkönen had at Hockenheim last week.

Williams and Honda could be in for good points, also.

The circuit itself is tight and slow (16 corners, with no real straights to speak of), and is very much like a go-kart track. This, unfortunately, leads to very little passing, and ultimately quite boring races.

 

[amp88]

My least favourite race of the year. Controversy again over the mass dampers but if the FIA are giving immunity to teams using them then the local stewards banning them shouldn't matter. They'll presumably have more of an effect here than they would have done at many of the GPs previously, so if they aren't run (which seems unlikely) then Renault could suffer even more. I expect Ferrari to again be quicker than Renault, I don't think the Renaults like Hungary very much with their excessive understeer. Could close the points gap yet again.

 

[TMM]

Come on McLaren, now is the time to show your stuff and win a race. Guess who I'm pinning my banner on then?

 

[MagpieRacer]

I love driving on this track in games, but it is dull as dishwater to watch a race on.

 

[Carl.]

No chance of making the top 10 for Alonso in Hungary, because of this:



👎👎👎

A well deserved 2 seconds penalty, which will put him far in the back for the start.

Edit: as mentioned above, half of that penalty was due to an overtaking move while on a yellow flag, thanks for the clarification.

I was mad at the decision when I first read about it, but then I saw the video... I always admired Alonso's impressive talent and consistency, but I really do hope he learns to control his temper on the track, as this is far from being the first time he acts in such an immature way in similar situations. Perhaps Doornbos wasn't watching his mirrors, but this was a very stupid way to address that ...and for god's sake, that was a friggin practice session!

This might well be the turning point for this year's championship.

 

[sausages]

Yeah, definitely not the first time he's shown his petulant side 👎

That looked pretty poor and pretty dangerous too - I read somewhere (pitpass I think) that the penalty was cemented by the fact he also overtook Albers under yellows later on in the session.

With that penalty, he may not even make it through the first qually session now.

EDIT: Sorry, just checked. He didn't overtake Albers, he was "seen to overtake under yellow flags following an incident involving Albers".
Apparently, the penalty was 1 second for the above incident and a further second for the overtaking incident.

 

[Famine]

You can tell he lives in Britain. That's normal motorway driving.

 

[m7ammed]

He deserves what he gets for that , you can see in the 6th sec of the vid he actually truns on him and when braking for the corner he brakes hard ......


Sham on you Alonso

 

[GilesGuthrie]

He's losing his rag.

I find it interesting that Renault saw fit to deny that he's crumbling under the pressure.

 

[Kylehnat]

He's lost his temper. Maybe Alonso should go to NASCAR. You can run people off the road there with no ramification. I'm not sure why he needed to get so hot and bothered during PRACTICE.

With that penalty, he may not even make it through the first qually session now.

Yes he will. They'll tack the penalty onto his final qualifying time.

 

[m7ammed]

Yes he will. They'll tack the penalty onto his final qualifying time.

No

The world champion will have two seconds added to his fastest lap time in each segment of Saturday’s qualifying.

so he migh quali just in front of the Aguris maybe or ahead of the Midlands

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Assuming he scores a gross 1st position in each session, he may just get into the top ten. Last year, Sato qualified 10th, 1.905s off pole, Klien 11th, 2.055s off pole.

 

[Carl.]

Last year's 1-lap qualification format helped a lot to create such gaps though. I'll be amazed if he make it to the last session.

 

[Lee]

I can see him into the second session but it might be smart to just stop there, then they can play around with the fuel and everything.

Then again, the track isn't widely known for it's overtaking oppurtunities...

 

[Roo]

Start at the back, brand new engine, brim the tank and see how it goes. Or maybe do one quali lap, at least get past Yamamoto. Save the tyres, so he'll have a brand new set for each stop. He might creep into the points, whatever he does.

Silly boy.

 

[Small_Fryz]

Oh My....

How interesting is the championship now!.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Oh My....

How interesting is the championship now!.

Not very, since we know Schumacher will get it.

 

[The Internet]

I love the announcers' take on it, though.

"That's useful."

"The excited boy ... in a difficult spot, his name is Alonso ... he is enraged like a wounded man..."

 

[m.piedgros]

*Standing, applauding and whistling.* I saw the incident and discussed it with my dad. I hope ol' Ferry Alsonso's championship from last year is seen as merely a blip on the radar screen in a period of Michael "The Greatest Driver Ever" Schumachers championship streak. I, obviously, say this from a Schumi fan stand point, not a racing fan stand point. As most other F1 viewers would like, I'd like to see an F1 where 22 drivers have a shot at the win on a weekly basis and we can say that Schumi style domination is a thing of the past, but I have developed some serious problems with Formula 1, not the least of which being the FIA's ridiculous rules and reg. changing. I would like to see an F1 that is free of Bernie Eccelstone, and Max Mosely, of course, now I'm going off on my own little rant. I apologize. Good to see the penalty be handed down. Bye-bye championship for Ferry!

m.piedgros

 

[Kylehnat]

I hope ol' Ferry Alsonso's championship from last year is seen as merely a blip on the radar screen in a period of Michael "The Greatest Driver Ever" Schumachers championship streak.

There are more championships ahead for Fernando, and Kimi as well. They aren't the ones retiring.

Personally, I think that this penalty is a bit bizzare, and without precedent. Adding two seconds to each session? How did they come up with that? Adding two seconds to his final time would put him mid-pack. That's penalty enough, is it not? Sometimes I just don't get the FIA and the race stewards. The rules seem to change daily.

On my own personal rant: I have no rational reason for feeling this way, but I'm just tired of seeing Michael. Really, what is his motivation now? What man needs 8 world championships? Give us a break already. We had to suffer through 2000-2004. 2005 was interesting, because Michael was not in the picture. I wonder if there is some correllation...

Rant #2: People who declared Fernando as the world champion after Canada. He never had an insurmountable lead, or even a huge lead, yet people insisted that there was no way anyone could catch him. Now, after a couple slip-ups, people are acting like he barfed up the largest lead in history, and calling into doubt his prowess. It's quite ridiculous.

 

[amp88]

What caused him to do it anyway? Did the Red Bull hold him up? It's only Free Practice, his laptime doesn't matter. Obviously the pressure's getting to him and he's cracking, shooting himself in the foot. If M Schumacher can capitalise on this with a win and Alonso scores little or no points the gap will be almost non-existent. Should make an interesting end to the season.

This incident reminds me of Patrese and Bailey in Jerez 1988. Patrese was blocked during the quali session by Bailey and to show his frustration he slowed and turned across Bailey, forcing Bailey to run into him and over his back wheel. He was fined $10,000 for the incident. This Alonso incident is a little less extreme, but it happened in quali where the times actually count.

edit: Has the first corner changed? It looks a bit tighter than it was before...

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Rant #2: People who declared Fernando as the world champion after Canada. He never had an insurmountable lead, or even a huge lead, yet people insisted that there was no way anyone could catch him. Now, after a couple slip-ups, people are acting like he barfed up the largest lead in history, and calling into doubt his prowess. It's quite ridiculous.

I'm doubting Renault more. They might've focused on the development of the 07 too much...too early.

 

[Kylehnat]

Obviously the pressure's getting to him and he's cracking, shooting himself in the foot.

I agree. Alonso seems to get upset at people a little too easily. However, F1 drivers are notorious for not looking in their mirrors, or caring if they're holding anyone up. That said, practice is no time to jeapordize the entire weekend

I'm doubting Renault more. They might've focused on the development of the 07 too much...too early.

Yeah, their development has really been subpar this year. It's quite surprising, given their improvement in previous years.

I'm an Alonso and Renault fan (that's no secret), but they have really been dropping the ball in the last few races.

 

[Small_Fryz]

On my own personal rant: I have no rational reason for feeling this way, but I'm just tired of seeing Michael. Really, what is his motivation now? What man needs 8 world championships? Give us a break already. We had to suffer through 2000-2004. 2005 was interesting, because Michael was not in the picture. I wonder if there is some correllation...

As i said before, if he can still fight for the title he has more right to be their than most of the feild. Doesnt matter if its his 1st or 15th. Winning is winning, and I think MS wants to win this championship as much as his 1st. If he still finds motivation like that then nobody is in a position to tell him to retire. Maybe if he was trolling around like DC then you could understand, but his not, his fighting against the youngest ever F1 champion and has a brilliant chance at winning. There really isnt a case as to why MS needs to retire. At least not yet. I think he should go for 1 more year and see how that goes.

I'm an Alonso and Renault fan (that's no secret)

thats why you feel the way you do.

 

[Blake]

Obviously the pressure's getting to him and he's cracking, shooting himself in the foot.

I don’t know. Way back when I was at the San Marino GP he was driving like a moron in free practice. He almost caused two seperate accidents. It wouldn’t entirely suprise me if he’s been doing silly things in practice all season. Just this time he got pinged for it.

 

[amp88]

I don’t know. Way back when I was at the San Marino GP he was driving like a moron in free practice. He almost caused two seperate accidents. It wouldn’t entirely suprise me if he’s been doing silly things in practice all season. Just this time he got pinged for it.

I didn't know he'd been messing around already but I was meaning that over the last couple of races he's been losing it a bit. Qualifying behind the two Ferraris, his teammate and Barrichello in the USGP and only finishing 5th, a good performance in France and then qualifying 7th and finishing 5th in Germany, going off the track in the process.

 

[Kylehnat]

thats why you feel the way you do.

No, it isn't.

 

[Gabkicks]

I didn't know he'd been messing around already but I was meaning that over the last couple of races he's been losing it a bit. Qualifying behind the two Ferraris, his teammate and Barrichello in the USGP and only finishing 5th, a good performance in France and then qualifying 7th and finishing 5th in Germany, going off the track in the process.

did his gf cheat on him or something? i noticed for the past few races he has been showing more anger and less patience and focus.

 

[[FPV]Rusty]

As i said before, if he can still fight for the title he has more right to be their than most of the feild. Doesnt matter if its his 1st or 15th. Winning is winning, and I think MS wants to win this championship as much as his 1st. If he still finds motivation like that then nobody is in a position to tell him to retire. Maybe if he was trolling around like DC then you could understand, but his not, his fighting against the youngest ever F1 champion and has a brilliant chance at winning. There really isnt a case as to why MS needs to retire. At least not yet. I think he should go for 1 more year and see how that goes.

I agree, why retire when you're still a competitor and be left wondering what more you could have done, keep going until you're are simply not up to the standard, of which Micheal Schumacher most definately is. I'd be dissapointed if he were to win the championship this year, he retires. I know what I'd be doing, even if Kimi Raikkonen where to blitz him next year as his teammate

 

[richie85]

And finally Alonso gets punished for his behaviour, this guy has been messing around for too long. It is funny to see how he is losing it, during quali in Germany he was also frustrated by Schumi getting away from the pits right in front of him. And yesterday he got pissed off for nothing again. Alonso needs to start focusing on racing, because he is messing everything up now. Last year, he did manage to keep his cool when things were getting more difficult and by scoring p3s and 4s he managed to become WC. This year he is loses his cool when thing get rough and I am sure Schuey is gonna take his eighth as a result. But don't worry, next year will be interesting as all the great drivers will be driving unfamiliar cars, Kimi in a Ferrari, Ferry in a McLaren and Webber in a Renault I guess. We will possibly see an unexpected champ next year...