Ready for one last F1 fix before the summer break? Tomorrow’s Hungarian Grand Prix is the last action for four weeks, as the circus crew head to the beach, the mountains or wherever for a well-earned rest.
Quite how restful the time off will be depends on what happens now – first in qualifying and then in the race. Will George Russell, in what was supposed to be his long-awaited year, put a dent in Kimi Antonelli’s substantial lead, to cut down on the sighing? Can Lewis Hamilton, in second place between the two Mercedes, build on a decent few weeks for Ferrari, which brought his first win in red, and head off with a smile?
Will Aston Martin’s upgrades suggest there is light at the end of the wind tunnel? What food for thought will Red Bull manage to give Max Verstappen, linked with a move away from the team and even the sport?
And how will the sport’s chiefs rest? There has already been a longer, unscheduled break in the schedule because the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain legs were (minor) casualties of Donald Trump’s Iran war. With the season due to wrap up with a second Middle East tour, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the prospects of further cancellations and possible additions to the season – Malaysia in October and Portugal in November – need discussing. And on top of that there’s the whole debate over the new formula, and the drivers’ dissatisfaction with the erosion of racing, which isn’t going away any time soon.
For now, all that will be determined is the grid for tomorrow’s race. Qualifying starts at 3pm; join me for the buildup from 2.15.
What is the immediate focus before the summer break?
The immediate focus is qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, which will decide the grid for tomorrow’s race. Tomorrow’s event is the last action for four weeks before the summer break, with the F1 paddock heading off for a well-earned rest.
Quite how restful the time off will be depends on what happens now, first in qualifying and then in the race. George Russell, in what was supposed to be his long-awaited year, will be looking to put a dent in Kimi Antonelli’s substantial lead and cut down on the sighing.
Lewis Hamilton, in second place between the two Mercedes, will also be trying to build on a decent few weeks for Ferrari, which brought his first win in red, and head off with a smile.
What else is being watched in the paddock?
Aston Martin’s upgrades are being closely monitored to see whether they suggest there is light at the end of the wind tunnel. Red Bull will also be under scrutiny as the team tries to give Max Verstappen food for thought, with Verstappen linked with a move away from the team and even the sport.
The sport’s chiefs will also be considering the wider schedule. There has already been a longer, unscheduled break in the calendar because the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain legs were (minor) casualties of Donald Trump’s Iran war.
With the season due to wrap up with a second Middle East tour, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the prospects of further cancellations and possible additions to the season – Malaysia in October and Portugal in November – need discussing.
On top of that, there is the ongoing debate over the new formula, along with the drivers’ dissatisfaction with the erosion of racing, which is not going away any time soon.
For now, all that will be determined is the grid for tomorrow’s race. Qualifying starts at 3pm; join me for the buildup from 2.15.
