Hungarian GP: Sauber preview
Formula One has to earn its short summer break by having back-to-back-races: The pack travels from Hockenheim straight away to Budapest where the Hungarian Grand Prix will be taking place as early as next Sunday. Pedro de la Rosa: "Budapest is ...
Formula One has to earn its short summer break by having back-to-back-races: The pack travels from Hockenheim straight away to Budapest where the Hungarian Grand Prix will be taking place as early as next Sunday.
Pedro de la Rosa:
"Budapest is one of my favourites because I achieved my first and - so far - only
podium there. This was back in 2006 when I finished second. The city is extremely
interesting and offers a lot. The architecture of the bridges, houses and castles is just
beautiful. When I was a test driver I used to go running along the river on Saturdays
after qualifying. You can feel the history, but at the same time the city is very much
alive. In a way it reminds me of Spain. I like to describe the track as the permanent
version of the Monaco street circuit. You need maximum downforce and a good car in
slow corners, while efficiency is less important. It is a nice track but it is very hard on
the drivers, especially when it is hot, which has quite often been the case at the race
weekends. Perhaps it is not the best track for our car, but we have improved it a lot for
slow corners and we have also proved if we finish races we can fight for points."
Kamui Kobayashi:
"I have good memories of the Hungaroring. Despite not achieving the best results
there, I like racing on this circuit a lot. I find it nice and exciting, and I certainly enjoy the
city, especially the restaurants on the side of the river. Also the circuit has a good
tradition and a nice atmosphere. It is very narrow and windy, which might be tough for
us this year. Overtaking is very difficult on that track, and therefore our chances on the
Hungaroring depend a lot on if and how much we can improve our qualifying
performance."
Technical Director James Key:
"If we look at the last four races Hungary is a different type of circuit again. We've had
Montreal with reasonably long straights and slow speed corners in Valencia, high
speed corners in Silverstone, a mix in Hockenheim and mainly low and medium speed
corners in Hungary. It's a fairly winding circuit which requires a high downforce level.
You can get away with a slightly less aerodynamical efficient car there as well. It also
requires a good mechanical grip, while there are some kerbs and some high and
medium speed chicanes where the car needs to be stable. The track is also quite
bumpy. The last corner is quite tricky, as is turn one the downhill right hander where
you've got to get that right not to lock up your inside wheel. In qualifying you also have
to look after your tyres for the end of the lap, because graining can be a problem. There
are two other things to consider: It's normally very hot so you have to watch cooling
levels and how that affects the tyres, secondly it's a place where overtaking is very
difficult so qualifying is very important."
-source: sauber
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