Magyar Nagydij 2005

[Blake]

...or more simply the 2005 Hungarian GP.

Hungary is famous for being the most boring race of the season. This is because it is all but impossible to overtake and the race is far from spectacular.

Alonso basically won the drivers title last weekend in Germany and it looks like he will consolidate that this weekend with another big points haul. Fisichella put in a solid drive last weekend to 4th, which would not normally be very impressive but by the end of the race he had no rear brakes and he still managed to overtake Schumacher in the final laps.

Kimi was the only driver who wasn't classified as a finisher last weekend and he will therefore qualify first, which is worse than usual because the Hungaroring circuit collects an unusual amount of dust. So chances are Alonso will take more points out of him. Juan Pablo is in with a good chance to win this weekend, although the Renault is traditionally fast here McLaren will robably still have the upperhand.

Ferrari, despite there constant testing, seem to be falling further and further behind. I really don't see much comming from them this weekend, maybe a podium if they're lucky.

BAR seem to have a fairly competetive car now and I wouldn't count Button out of a podium. I wonder whether his spirits will be down because of this thing with Williams?

The rest, pretty much in there usual position, except Minardi who put in an exceptional finish last weekend with Albers grabbing 13th.

Blake

 

[amp88]

Hopefully Schumi won't be getting lapped in this year's race. Lately I've had to resort to watching Grand Prix from years past to taste Ferrari victory

I don't really like the Hungarian GP, the track doesn't really lend itself to overtaking (due in part to the dust, presumably). It's probably gonna be another hot race weekend again, so I wonder if Raikkonen's car'll be able to put up with the punishment...

Anyway, this is supposed to be the busiest month in F1 history, with 4 races in the same month. It's not been much fun for Ferrari fans though

 

[Biased turkey]

Hungarian GP:
Nothing to see here, move along

 

[Pupik]

The 1989 and 1990 races at the H-Ring weren't half bad. Mansell did an amazing job from 12th on the grid, and Boutsen beat the best drivers in the world...I suppose it's been a while, hasn't it?

I don't get the whole "Alonso has basically clinched it" talk. While he's the man to beat right now, there's still 8 races left, and if Kimi's car stays together for 7-8 races, he could possibly win the title if he wins or stays ahead of Fernando.

 

[Schumacher Fan]

Anyway, this is supposed to be the busiest month in F1 history, with 4 races in the same month. It's not been much fun for Ferrari fans though

You can say that again... 👎

 

[Melaneimoon]

...and if Kimi's car stays together for 7-8 races...

That's the point. That is one big IF.
After all, he WAS in the lead here in (the beginning of) last year's final lap.

 

[amp88]

There are 7 races left this year (including Hungary). There are currently 36 points between Alonso and Raikkonen.

With the current points structure, if Raikkonen somehow manages to win all the remaining races (scoring 70 points more) and Alonso manages to place third in all the remaining races (scoring 42 points more), Alonso will still finish 8 points ahead of Raikkonen (129 points versus 121 points).

I don't like the current points structure, closing a points gap is much harder now than it was on the older structure.

 

[kensei]

If McMerc can give Kimi a car that will finish the race Kimi will walk away with this one.

I think Alonso will podium, maybe win, but remember how poorly the Renault did at Monaco, the other circuit like this one. Though I doubt Renault will be as aggressive with their tire choice this time.

Fisi and JPM will the up there as will JB. MS will be too at the end of the run.

So

Kimi*
JPM*
Alonso
JB
Fisi
MS**

*If McMerc can build a decent engine and the McLaren mechanics can tighten everything.

** If bridgestone bring a good tire.

Thank god for those of us in the USA CBS is done with F1 for the seaosn. No more Derek Daly or the other idiots that CBS has call the races.

Bring on Hobbs/Matchett and Rick.

Oh ya I'll be finally watching the German GP tomorrow night when SPEED airs thier coverage. I couldn't stomach CBS's coverage after the 4th lap last weekend.

 

[Blake]

I don't get the whole "Alonso has basically clinched it" talk. While he's the man to beat right now, there's still 8 races left, and if Kimi's car stays together for 7-8 races, he could possibly win the title if he wins or stays ahead of Fernando.

Kimi has to score twice as many points as Alonso every race to get the title, assuming Kimi wins each race. Alonso has to fail to finish 3 races more than Kimi does for Kimi to have any real chance. I would really like Kimi to win, but it seems unlikely.

Blake

 

[Omnis]

well the hungaroring sounds like a buffet of fun.

[insert rimshot here]

 

[prisonermonkeys]

So, who's looking forward to Istanbul?

 

[Blake]

Friday Practice 1

Pos. Driver Team Time Laps
1 A. Wurz McLaren 1:21.411 20
2 R. Barrichello Ferrari 1:22.834 8
3 J. Button BAR 1:23.028 12
4 K. Räikkönen McLaren 1:23.159 7
5 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:23.234 8
6 F. Massa Sauber 1:23.375 10
7 N. Heidfeld Williams 1:23.384 8
8 JP. Montoya McLaren 1:23.558 7
9 T. Sato BAR 1:23.679 11
10 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:23.706 6
11 J. Trulli Toyota 1:23.764 8
12 F. Alonso Renault 1:23.933 10
13 M. Webber Williams 1:23.918 8
14 G. Fisichella Renault 1:23.940 9
15 V. Liuzzi Red Bull 1:24.174 19
16 R. Zonta Toyota 1:24.270 18
17 J. Villeneuve Sauber 1:24.683 10
18 N. Karthikeyan Jordan 1:26.130 14
19 R. Doornbos Minardi 1:27.011 16
20 T. Monteiro Jordan 1:27.344 8
21 C. Albers Minardi 1:27.540 8
22 N. Kiesa Jordan 1:28.230 19
23 C. Nissany Minardi 1:34.319 8
24 C. Klien Red Bull no time 1
25 D. Coulthard Red Bull no time 1

I'm very suprised with the performance of Ferrari and BAR. And Wurz was incredibly fast.

Blake

 

[Blake]

So, who's looking forward to Istanbul?

I'm not sure, I've driven the track in games but I'm not sure if it will produce an exciting race, it might I'm just not convinced from what I've seen.

Blake

 

[TMM]

The 1989 and 1990 races at the H-Ring weren't half bad. Mansell did an amazing job from 12th on the grid, and Boutsen beat the best drivers in the world...I suppose it's been a while, hasn't it?

Yes it has and the cars and tires have changed, but it would be great to see some racing like in the old days. The thing about Mansell was, he never gave up. He never settled for the place he was in, he used to race right to the end.

I don't get the whole "Alonso has basically clinched it" talk. While he's the man to beat right now, there's still 8 races left, and if Kimi's car stays together for 7-8 races, he could possibly win the title if he wins or stays ahead of Fernando.

Yeah, Kimi's bad luck has got to end soon surely. And it could happen that Alonso start having bad luck, not that I'm wishing it on him at all. I would be happy if Kimi & McLaren wins this year, I will be happy if Alonso and Renault win this year. It has been an exciting season and I hope that it will go down to the last race as a decider of the championship, drivers have lost focus before because they think they can't be reached. Although Alonso doesn't seem like the kind of driver who would do that, he has really re-invented himself for this year and it is paying off big time.

 

[TMM]

Friday Practice 1

Pos. Driver Team Time Laps
24 C. Klien Red Bull no time 1
25 D. Coulthard Red Bull no time 1

I'm very suprised with the performance of Ferrari and BAR. And Wurz was incredibly fast.

Blake

Whats happened to Red Bull?

 

[Blake]

TMM, you can't blame all Kimi's problems on bad luck, it is not bad luck that the car is unreliable, it is a problem that can be fixed, the fact that it happens to Kimi rather than Montoya mostly, yeah, that could be called bad luck. But McLaren are losing this years championship because of their reliability.

Blake

 

[Blake]

Friday Practice 2

Pos. Driver Team Time Laps
1 R. Zonta Toyota 1:20.409 24
2 A. Wurz McLaren 1:20.519 35
3 K. Räikkönen McLaren 1:21.281 18
4 J. Trulli Toyota 1:21.410 26
5 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:21.631 24
6 JP. Montoya McLaren 1:21.662 17
7 R. Barrichello Ferrari 1:21.914 23
8 F. Alonso Renault 1:22.473 21
9 J. Button BAR 1:22.544 29
10 C. Klien Red Bull 1:22.626 23
11 G. Fisichella Renault 1:22.652 21
12 N. Heidfeld Williams 1:22.861 16
13 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:22.886 24
14 V. Liuzzi Red Bull 1:22.913 15
15 M. Webber Williams 1:22.935 18
16 J. Villeneuve Sauber 1:23.558 23
17 T. Sato BAR 1:23.560 12
18 F. Massa Sauber 1:23.574 25
19 R. Doornbos Minardi 1:23.670 23
20 C. Albers Minardi 1:24.093 21
21 T. Monteiro Jordan 1:24.862 24
22 N. Karthikeyan Jordan 1:25.184 25
23 N. Kiesa Jordan 1:25.269 17
24 M. Schumacher Ferrari no time 1
25 C. Nissany Minardi no time 0

Toyota are looking very good this session....

Blake

 

[Solid Lifters]

Toyota are looking very good this session....

Blake

Could it be that the 10 billion dollars they spent this season is starting to pay off?

I knew Alonso and Renault would take things easy, but, DAMN! I sure hope these guys wake up before the qualifying!

 

[Lee]

Hmmmmm this is an intresting race...... Raikkonen is gonnah ave to nail his quilfying lap otherwise we will be seeing another siverstone with Raikonnen having to try and clave his way through the drivers using strategy (since this track is almost as bad as monaco for overtaking oppertunites), BAR are looking surprisingly competitive this weekend again but as Blake put surely the Williams trouble with have Button thinking, if hes a good enough driver mentally then he wont let it affect him. Ferrari and especially Barrichello for once are looking fairly competitve and i expect a nice battle between them and BAR to take place. Its between Renault and McLaren though for the win.

Pole: Alonso, if Renault have any sense they will light fuel him to get ahead of Montoya and Raikonnen

1st: Montoya, he had a great race in Germany and will be looking to repeat that but from the top end of the grid.
2nd: Alonso, he should get pole, but he will get done in the pit stops by Montoya.
3rd: Either Kimi, JB or Ruben, this is gonna be close, real close, expect a crash in the last couple of laps
6th: Fisi, he finally had a good race in Germany, even if Sato bummed him and will be looking to stick with the recent form
7th: M Schumacher, he really best hope bridgestone have a tyre that will last the warm conditions of Hungary, overwise he could possibly drop out of the points towards the end of the race.
8th: Sato, BAR are strong here, Taku will be looking to get his much needed first points of the season, and here could be the time.

 

[Lee]

I'm not sure, I've driven the track in games but I'm not sure if it will produce an exciting race, it might I'm just not convinced from what I've seen.

Blake

Agreed totally, ive raced on the instanbul track on F1 2005 and its just too hilly the gradient changes almost after every corner, the layout is alot like china too. Did you notice its Anit-CLockwise aswell? only other tracks that are like that is San Marino and Brazil

 

[TMM]

TMM, you can't blame all Kimi's problems on bad luck, it is not bad luck that the car is unreliable, it is a problem that can be fixed, the fact that it happens to Kimi rather than Montoya mostly, yeah, that could be called bad luck. But McLaren are losing this years championship because of their reliability.

Blake

I agree, the reliability should be resolved and McLaren are losing this years championship because of their failure to resolve it. It does strike me as strange how it is always Kimi's car that seems to fail though, like this year is just not his year.

24 M. Schumacher Ferrari no time 1

Whats happened to GOD, don't tell me he's shunted it into a wall again???!!!!

Hmmmmm this is an intresting race...... Raikkonen is gonnah ave to nail his quilfying lap otherwise we will be seeing another siverstone with Raikonnen having to try and clave his way through the drivers using strategy (since this track is almost as bad as monaco for overtaking oppertunites), BAR are looking surprisingly competitive this weekend again but as Blake put surely the Williams trouble with have Button thinking, if hes a good enough driver mentally then he wont let it affect him. Ferrari and especially Barrichello for once are looking fairly competitve and i expect a nice battle between them and BAR to take place. Its between Renault and McLaren though for the win.

Lets hope so anyway. Kimi won't be placed to high by the end of the session but he's sure to carve his way through and that will make for some interesting racing. I don't think the Williams problem will put Button off at all, surely he will be trying to prove to BAR that he's so good they can't afford to let him go to Williams and besides he has been racing for several seasons now and so should know how to put all other thoughts out of his head whilst he is in the 'office'. Personally I think that if he doesn't go then he could be causing himself problems for future driving contracts, certainly with Williams, and who knows how good or bad they will be next season. Ferrari are sure to put a stop to Barrichello's fun for the qualifying, he can't be better than GOD now can he?

Kimi McLaren for a win, Montoya 2nd with Alonso 3rd, although I would love to see Button getting 3rd again with Sato following him. Maybe Alonso DNF or out of the points, that would make for good talking points on who has won the championship.

 

[Blake]

Saturday Practice 1

Pos. Driver Team Time Laps
1 K. Räikkönen McLaren 1:21.686 7
2 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:21.842 10
3 JP. Montoya McLaren 1:21.980 7
4 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:22.712 10
5 F. Alonso Renault 1:22.798 8
6 J. Trulli Toyota 1:22.888 10
7 N. Heidfeld Williams 1:23.167 6
8 R. Barrichello Ferrari 1:23.583 4
9 M. Webber Williams 1:23.678 7
10 F. Massa Sauber 1:23.715 10
11 J. Button BAR 1:23.902 6
12 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:23.932 7
13 C. Klien Red Bull 1:24.006 7
14 T. Sato BAR 1:24.070 11
15 J. Villeneuve Sauber 1:24.078 11
16 G. Fisichella Renault 1:24.200 6
17 R. Doornbos Minardi 1:25.691 11
18 N. Karthikeyan Jordan 1:25.721 10
19 C. Albers Minardi 1:25.947 11
20 T. Monteiro Jordan 1:26.600 12


Blake

 

[Solid Lifters]

Saturday Practice 1

Pos. Driver Team Time Laps
1 K. Räikkönen McLaren 1:21.686 7
2 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:21.842 10
3 JP. Montoya McLaren 1:21.980 7
4 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:22.712 10
5 F. Alonso Renault 1:22.798 8
6 J. Trulli Toyota 1:22.888 10
7 N. Heidfeld Williams 1:23.167 6
8 R. Barrichello Ferrari 1:23.583 4
9 M. Webber Williams 1:23.678 7
10 F. Massa Sauber 1:23.715 10
11 J. Button BAR 1:23.902 6
12 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:23.932 7
13 C. Klien Red Bull 1:24.006 7
14 T. Sato BAR 1:24.070 11
15 J. Villeneuve Sauber 1:24.078 11
16 G. Fisichella Renault 1:24.200 6
17 R. Doornbos Minardi 1:25.691 11
18 N. Karthikeyan Jordan 1:25.721 10
19 C. Albers Minardi 1:25.947 11
20 T. Monteiro Jordan 1:26.600 12


Blake

Did Schumacher get Barrichello's car?

I see Fisi is still asleep. At least Alonso is starting to waken up.

 

[Blake]

Saturday Practice 2

Pos. Driver Team Time Laps
1 K. Räikkönen McLaren 1:20.203 11
2 JP. Montoya McLaren 1:20.517 14
3 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:20.773 17
4 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:20.903 13
5 R. Barrichello Ferrari 1:21.266 7
6 G. Fisichella Renault 1:21.276 14
7 J. Button BAR 1:21.301 15
8 F. Alonso Renault 1:21.336 12
9 T. Sato BAR 1:21.880 17
10 M. Webber Williams 1:21.889 9
11 N. Heidfeld Williams 1:21.918 9
12 C. Klien Red Bull 1:22.340 13
13 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:22.534 14
14 J. Trulli Toyota 1:22.699 6
15 F. Massa Sauber 1:22.753 11
16 C. Albers Minardi 1:22.979 11
17 J. Villeneuve Sauber 1:22.985 14
18 R. Doornbos Minardi 1:23.358 8
19 N. Karthikeyan Jordan 1:24.265 14
20 T. Monteiro Jordan 1:24.628 17

Alonso got sleepy again

Blake

 

[RSCosworth]

Ferrari looking fast, Renault slow? Well this is different. *hopes for some miracle to tighten up the championship*

McLaren sure is the fastest car of the series by the looks of it, too shame Kimi can't finish with it.

 

[amp88]

Great pole for Schumi, hopefully he's not too light for tomorrow. Sadly we never saw much onboard of the lap, but it looked pretty spectacular from the trackside cameras

 

[RSCosworth]

Bah, I get to see the qualifying in three hours. I'll have to write the channel that airs F1 here a rant about it not being live

 

[amp88]

Bah, I get to see the qualifying in three hours. I'll have to write the channel that airs F1 here a rant about it not being live

I won't spoil quali for you by telling you Raikkonen did a triple barrel roll then?

edit: feck

 

[Nasadus]

Michael owned the entire grid.
I say he laps everyone tomorow,or maybe that's a bit too much.

 

[Blake]

Qualifying

Pos. Driver Team Time
1 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:19.882
2 JP. Montoya McLaren 1:20.779
3 J. Trulli Toyota 1:20.839
4 K. Räikkönen McLaren 1:20.891
5 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:21.158
6 F. Alonso Renault 1:21.141
7 R. Barrichello Ferrari 1:21.158
8 J. Button BAR 1:21.302
9 G. Fisichella Renault 1:21.333
10 T. Sato BAR 1:21.787
11 C. Klien Red Bull 1:21.937
12 N. Heidfeld Williams 1:22.086
13 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:22.279
14 F. Massa Sauber 1:22.565
15 J. Villeneuve Sauber 1:22.866
16 M. Webber Williams 1:23.495
17 C. Albers Minardi 1:24.443
18 N. Karthikeyan Jordan 1:25.057
19 R. Doornbos Minardi 1:25.484
20 T. Monteiro Jordan no time

0.8 seconds, that's madness. Will be interesting to see how the race pans out.

Blake