The second half of the 2024 Formula 1 championship begins at the Hungaroring, once considered the Monaco without guard rails. This nickname has become obsolete, as the Hungarian track is now classified by teams as a medium-speed circuit. The similarities with the Barcelona track are more evident. Besides the long corners and the importance of aerodynamic load, the Hungarian circuit is afflicted by a scorching heat wave, predicting another high-degradation and strategically lively race. All this in a weekend where several teams will bring updates, with the ever-present risk of altering the delicate balance of ground effect Formula 1 cars.
Red Bull to regain its footing
Max Verstappen arrives in Budapest with his usual calm and determination but does not hide his belief that he no longer has the best car in the field. Therefore, the updates arriving at the Hungaroring, which the world champion reveals to be the most extensive since the start of the year, will be crucial: “So far we have brought things that were not particularly big, while this package is the most substantial.”
The goal is not only to improve load, aerodynamic efficiency, and tire usage but to restore the RB20 to the character it had at the beginning of the season, which perfectly matched the Dutchman’s driving style: “At the start of the year, I felt really comfortable with the car. Perhaps driving it came even more naturally than the previous year, which is positive. However, after a few races, the opponents caught up, and with the car, we had some messy weekends where finding the ideal window was difficult. In the first races, we didn’t have particular problems, and everything came more naturally.”
Even world champions are not exempt from the side effects of ground effect car development, where each change risks altering the driving characteristics positively or negatively. This dynamic is more evident with Sergio Perez at Red Bull, but even Max Verstappen is not immune: “Even for me, in the last few weekends, it has been really difficult to get the most out of the car. We are trying to put it in a better and more predictable window of use.”
Mercedes’ ecstasy
On the other hand, Mercedes is moving in the opposite direction, coming off two consecutive victories, with increasing confidence that the W15 is now on the level of the top two teams. The Silver Arrows have not received any noticeable aerodynamic corrections in recent weeks, but the small changes made have improved driving behavior, benefiting lap time even more. “In Canada, we brought a reasonable upgrade package, but it was nowhere near what we gained on the stopwatch. I think we have much more confidence in the car thanks to how it behaves now, and we can push closer to the limit,” says George Russell.
“Now the tires are in better condition during the race, and we can manage them more easily. It’s a chain reaction on performance. A small update has led to significant improvements in lap times because we can exploit the car more.” Therefore, the imperative becomes not to alter the car’s benign character with the upcoming updates, expected between the Hungarian and Belgian weekends. The same goes for McLaren, credited with the most versatile car on the grid, but also exposed to the risks of development.
Ferrari in Budapest
Ferrari is already dealing with the side effects of the aerodynamic update package. Never before the Hungarian Grand Prix have Maranello’s drivers seemed confident in managing the bouncing suffered since the start of the season and emphasized by the Barcelona aero package: “I am optimistic because the team warned us that the new parts could cause more bouncing, and that’s what happened. We acknowledged that it was a possibility, and that’s what happened, while now the simulations tell us it should decrease,” commented Carlos Sainz in the paddock.
The Spaniard’s comments are interesting, revealing that the Maranello team was aware of the risk of facing amplified bouncing but decided to proceed with the Barcelona updates anyway. The questions then arise about why such a choice was made, whether Ferrari felt the need to fully address the bouncing issue or if it reflects a team more willing to take risks, a mentality repeatedly emphasized by Frederic Vasseur.
