Following the subpar showing at the Silverstone circuit in the British Grand Prix, plagued by conservative setup and strategic choices, Scuderia Ferrari comes to Hungary seeking not only redemption but also confirmation. According to the Maranello team, the features of the Hungaroring should suit the SF-23 well, as the car has excelled in slow corners and traction during the first part of the season.
Unlike two weeks ago, the wind should not be a limiting factor as it was at Silverstone, particularly in the faster sections. In other races, strong gusts, especially when hitting the SF-23 diagonally, caused instability and undermined drivers’ confidence.
This is an aspect the Maranello team has been working intensively on behind the scenes to minimize this nagging problem that has persisted since the beginning of the year. “I think we now understand which tracks we struggle on the most. Unfortunately, Silverstone was one of them. We knew it wouldn’t be a great weekend for us on paper. Saturday went quite well, considering what we expected. Sunday went worse than we expected, but we also know why,” Charles Leclerc shared during the opening day of the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.
“The wind conditions are an important factor for us. It has a significant impact, probably more than on other cars on the grid. We can’t be consistent in these situations. We have made great progress since the beginning of the year. The situation was worse than it is now. But we still need to make further improvements.” – the Monegasque continued.
“I have no doubts that we will get better. Then we need some time to produce the parts and find the best way to address the issue. But we have already seen progress in this direction. Now we just have to keep pushing,” added the Ferrari driver, mentioning that it will take some more time to fully understand and resolve the situation.
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With the starting grid in recent races witnessing the rankings change multiple times, Ferrari’s hope is to compete for a prominent result and at least establish themselves as a stable second force during the Hungarian weekend, while allowing room to dream big.
The characteristics of the track give confidence as they should align better with the strengths of the SF-23: “We are going in the right direction. Then, as we saw in the last race at Silverstone, when the wind picks up on Sunday, it is still one of our main weaknesses. On paper, [Hungaroring] suits our car a bit more. But once again, every weekend seems to bring surprises from one team or another. So, let’s see,” added the Monegasque driver, emphasizing how this 2023 Formula One season has brought highs and lows for all teams, often making the battle behind Red Bull unpredictable.
Indeed, albeit atypical, the Hungaroring circuit has its own peculiarities that also favor cars equipped with a good front end, capable of providing great stability and entry into the medium-fast sequence of the second sector.
During this weekend, the Alternative Tyre Allocation will also make its debut, a new format that involves a different supply of available tires. Instead of the usual thirteen sets, each driver will have eleven sets of tires in Hungary, with the obligation to use the hard compound in Q1, the medium in Q2, and the soft in Q3. According to the teams, this will also influence the entire weekend’s plan, pushing teams to differentiate their programs depending on how they want to manage the tire allocation provided by Pirelli.
“It will be very complicated because even the three free practice sessions will be different, and I think we will see many different programs in FP1, FP2, and FP3 throughout the grid, as there are so many different options to choose from now with this new format. So we’ll see. It can be an opportunity. Obviously, if you make wrong decisions, it can have negative repercussions on the weekend. But that’s part of the game. I think Q1 and Q2 will also be challenging due to the different compounds. We are not used to pushing on a hard tire in qualifying mode. So I think it will be new for everyone and it could be a surprise for someone.” – the Monegasque pointed out.
Due to an erroneous strategy in the previous season while leading the race, Charles Leclerc has not stepped onto the podium of the Hungarian Grand Prix since the distant 2016, when he was still racing in GP3. Clearly, the hope is to reverse this trend already this year. “I don’t believe in bad luck. I don’t think this was a track where I have been particularly strong in the past. Last year we had a good weekend, but obviously, we didn’t manage to get on the podium for many reasons. But I believe that in the end, the pace was there. The year before, honestly, I don’t think I did a great job on this track. Nevertheless, I am confident that we will do well this weekend.” – the Ferrari man concluded.
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