Hungarian Grand Prix Review

Let's pull no punches here. The Hungarian GP has passed its use-by date. When the inaugural race was held in 1986, the first to go behind the then Iron Curtain, it had a certain novelty value that negated the fact that the track was pathetic and the racing almost non-existent. The conspicuously empty grandstands on the main straight this year serve as powerful testimony to the notion that that novelty value has now worn off, although the devastating floods in the area may have also had something to do with it.

Modern F1 car design has also meant that track designers are coming up with new corner combinations to enhance the racing (in theory, anyway). The Hungaroring is simply not up to scratch any more, if it ever was. With Turkey, China, Russia and others all bidding for a GP, some circuits have to go. If for commercial reasons Spa disappears and the Hungaroring doesn't, that will be a sorry day for F1. For producing yet another mindlessly boring Grand Prix, our 'Reject of the Race' award this time is awarded to the Hungaroring itself.

It was not too much of a surprise that Rubens Barrichello had the better of Schumi all weekend. Over a single lap in qualifying he has shown that he can be as fast as the great German, and by snatching pole on Saturday, thereby relegating Michael to 2nd and the very dirty side of the track for the start, he might as well have gone home with the winner's trophy then and there, especially considering the overtaking-unfriendly configuration of the track.

And so it proved. Although Schumi's pit stops were better and he almost got passed the Brazilian at both stops, Rubinho did enough to stay ahead, and compared to the similar situation at the Nurburgring, this was really a much easier win. And whilst Michael no doubt wants that record 10th win in a season, he is much more supportive of Barrichello than he ever was of Eddie Irvine, and the fact that Rubens can take 2nd in the title means that he may not have been pushing as hard as he possibly could.

REJECT OF THE RACE
The Hungaroring
Everyone hates the track; please Bernie, ditch it for 2003!

Ralf Schumacher qualified 3rd, and just lost out to his brother at the start. So what? Had he got passed, he would have held Michael up for the first stint only, and the Ferrari would have got by at the stops anyway. But while he was driving as well as he could, the same could not be said of Juan-Pablo Montoya. Last year, Hungary was a bogey track for JPM, but by qualifying 4th he seemed to have worked the Hungaroring out, and it looked as though for once both the Williams drivers would be on form at the same time.

But after a horrendous start from the dirty side of the track and slipping to 7th, JPM battled an understeering car, fought too hard to fend off a brilliant Kimi Räikkönen, broke his mini barge boards by going off the track, and then had a totally undriveable machine on his hands. That he wanted to park it was poor testimony to his otherwise-legendary fighting spirit, while Patrick Head's animated gestures in ordering Sam Michael to tell JPM to stay out there paid tribute to the team's frustrations.

They may not have been quite on Ferrari's pace, but one suspects they could have given the red cars more of a fight if they had started on the second or third rows. Kimi's move on Montoya was brave and superb, serving up revenge with interest for the pass the Colombian made on him at Hockenheim. That JPM went off to hand Räikkönen the place should not be allowed to detract from what ought to be one of the overtaking moves of the year. Juan-Pablo had been checkmated regardless; he had to concede anyway.

McLaren's friendliness to its Michelins allowed for some fantastic laps in and around pit stop time. The ease with which Coulthard emerged in front of Jarno Trulli at the first stop, and with which both leapfrogged both Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa at the second, was simply staggering. It is well known that the Woking team have been hampered by their Mercedes engine in 2002. If that significantly improves for 2003, then on current stability McLaren look more likely to challenge Ferrari than Williams does.

Jenson Button's no mug in qualifying, but he's no Ayrton Senna either. There's little doubt he's quick and consistent in races though, even if he made a mistake here, losing concentration as he lapped debutant Anthony Davidson's Minardi and spinning out of the race, becoming one of only four retirements all race. He had leapt from 9th on the grid to 6th by turn two, but he was behind Massa and Fisichella when he retired, and had not shown signs of being that much faster. Perhaps points were never on the cards. On the other hand, Jarno Trulli's ineptitude in races, if not on Saturdays, continues to amaze. The on-board replay of his start showed his lack of composure in the opening corners as he hack-sawed at his steering wheel, got snookered by Button and JPM, and banged wheels with Räikkönen. He was then nowhere for the rest of the race (haven't we heard that before?), was easy meat for both McLarens, and never looked like scoring points. Except in Flavio Briatore's eyes, Trulli's worth as an F1 racer is plummeting with every event.

Now it must be said that Felipe's antics this year have not made us his fans. We were quietly rejoicing at the fact that he finished 7th and missed out on points. But that would be to deny that he drove a faultless race that got him closer to Fisichella with every pit stop. McLaren's turn of speed during the stop sequences must have caught both Jordan and Sauber by surprise. If there is justice, then the fact that Massa didn't score here should not count against him. Grudgingly we admit that he had had a fine weekend.

Similar praise must go to Fisichella. Apart from several blips, namely at the Nurburgring and Silverstone, Giancarlo has been very good in qualifying, and generally he has flattered what is not a great Jordan Honda combination. In Hungary he was fast and steady all weekend, trouncing team-mate Takuma Sato who was not particularly impressive, and in the race was only undone by the McLarens. He deserved to collect the last point. With Ford power for 2003, he should have much to look forward to.

On paper, one would think that Honda have done the right thing to jump in bed with BAR. Under David Richards' guidance, in 2003 the team should be better-organised and the car a better proposition. But even if that is the case, they look like going into next season with next to no momentum on the board. Apart from their one excellent race at Silverstone, BAR's season has been as bland as their colour scheme, and Hungary was no exception.

Olivier Panis qualified 12th and Jacques Villeneuve 13th in what was a near-perfect Noah's Ark grid. Panis then dropped back to 19th between the Minardis but clawed his way back to 12th by race end, while Jacques was the first retirement, and has been dogged in previous weeks by rumours of a return to CART next year. Whilst that might give him the chance to fight more competitively once again, his constant stream of quiet weekends over the past two seasons must surely raise questions about his motivation.

That was because Mika Salo's Toyota, which the Spaniard had tried but failed to pass all race, was given a 25 second penalty after the flag for the pit lane incident in which the two had nearly collided. The Jaguar was about to get past when the Finn came out, causing Pedro to brake heavily in order to avoid hitting either the Toyota or the wall. Although there will be differing views, I believe the Toyota crew should not have let Salo out, the heat of competition notwithstanding.

At any rate, safety should have demanded that that was the case. For justice to prevail, Salo and de la Rosa should have swapped positions. Perhaps a drive-through penalty for Mika would have sufficed, but a draconian penalty after the race that dropped him behind team-mate Allan McNish as well seemed excessive. All in all, this had been yet another rather average weekend for Toyota, as their inexperience shows in the seeming lack of development of the TF102 as the season has worn on.

And those were the ten teams that fronted up at the Hungaroring. Arrows had finally decided to stay away and risk the wrath of the FIA in order to solve their financial problems. One wonders why the FIA have such drastic penalties in store for teams that miss races. It would seem incredibly heartless to slap Arrows with even more pecuniary misery, especially since they were obviously missing Hungary simply because of money trouble anyway, and not for any other subversive reason. Still, that's what the Concorde Agreement is all about: economic survival of the fittest.

After yet another somnolent affair in Hungary, at least we have the remaining races to look forward to, taking in the sweeps of Spa, the fervour of Monza, the tradition of Indianapolis and the challenge of Suzuka. It seems as though history will surely be in the making, with Schumi odds on to take his 10th win this season somewhere along the line and break his record of 123 points in a year, whilst at the same time trying to help Barrichello stave off the Williams and McLaren challenge to stay 2nd in the championship.