Hungarian GP - Qualifying

Ladies and Gentlemen,

McLaren was the quickest car today with HAM fastest on both sessions and BUT 2nd and 6th respectively. Ferrari was closer to them in general but it was RAI in second in P2 in the Lotus that is looking stronger as the track builds up rubber and temperatures climb up.  Rain hit P2 and most teams sent their drivers to explore the track in both inters and full wets in case the showers forecasted for race day are correct although QF is expected to be dry tomorrow.

Red Bull didn’t show their single-lap potential as is their customary style, using both sessions instead to evaluate the medium compound/heavy fuel on long stints. The prime white-tyres most likely will be choice for at least 2 stints during the race, and VET was only 0.8 seconds off HAM’s pace (the McLaren on options) which is very telling because the primes are only about 1 second slower than the options around here.

P1- HAM (1.22.821) BUT  ALO  ROS  GRO  SCH  MAS  RAI  BOT (Bottas, Williams reserve driver) PER – WEB 13th, VET 15th.

P2- HAM (1.21.995) –temperature was 8C higher that P1- RAI  SEN  MAS  ALO  BUT  DIR  VET  GRO SCH

The overall view is that McLaren is very quick on softs and single-lap trim but may struggle again on tyre temperatures;  Ferrari is the best balanced on the different compounds and is well adapted to all the sectors of the circuit; Lotus has the best chassis for this particular layout and Kimi is now looking very comfortable with the E20; Red Bull will be very strong comes race day on high track temperatures (but they are an enigma for QF); Mercedes is struggling on the many long-constant corners of the Hungaroring and Sauber has yet again lost its set-up direction on the opening day of practice.

So let’s continue playing roulette in the probable changing weather conditions, make your bets!

2010 CFA Champion Fernando will open the score: HAM ALO BUT

Cato – HAM  ALO  VET

Good luck!

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