Track Analysis: all secrets of Hungaroring circuit

The Formula 1 circus arrives at the Hungaroring, a classic summer event on the championship calendar. The Hungarian circuit is very different from Silverstone and is considered rear-limited, with the rear tires being under stress. With its 4.381 km length and 13 corners, the twisty track is second only to Monte-Carlo in terms of average speed. There are two DRS zones allocated on the main straight and between turns 1 and 2, which, given the nature of the track, are the best points for overtaking. As it is a circuit with many slow and consecutive corners, teams will opt for a high-downforce setup. Let’s explore together, in the track analysis, all the challenges of the eleventh race of the season taking place in Hungary.

Sector 1
The first sector starts on the main straight and descends towards the first braking point. This represents the most demanding point for the braking systems according to Brembo. In fact, simulations show a development of 4.8 G in just 120 meters. Good traction out of turn 1 is crucial to reach turn 2 as quickly as possible. Here, drivers face a downhill braking zone that could induce understeer. Continuing downhill, they approach turn 3, a fast right-hand corner taken at around 200 km/h, followed by a slight uphill section that concludes the first sector.

Sector 2
The second sector begins with turn 4, a left-hand bend that drivers tackle aggressively. It’s easy to lose the rear of the car and spin towards the barriers at this point. Additionally, it is a spot where exceeding track limits is common. After turn 4, drivers proceed to turn 5, which opens the most twisty part of the track. From turn 5, a slight uphill right-hand bend leads to a chicane with high kerbs and a braking point with 4.7 G of deceleration. Here, the tendency is to attack the kerbs to be as fast as possible. After this chicane, drivers enter the sequence of turns 8-9-10-11, a series of corners where front-end grip is crucial, with the rear of the car needing to follow suit. This section also represents the final part of the second sector, which concludes just after exiting turn 11.

Sector 3
The last sector of the track starts with a short downhill section and leads to turn 12, the final challenging braking point of the circuit. Drivers experience a deceleration of 4.7 G from the 272 km/h reached before the braking zone. After turn 12, drivers tackle the uphill last two corners, with the first one being a left-hand bend followed by a right-hand bend. These final two corners are particularly challenging for cars with imprecise front-end handling, as it could induce understeer. Once these two corners are navigated, drivers find themselves on the main straight, which also marks the end of the lap.

Pirelli’s Tire Choices for the Hungarian Track

For the Hungaroring weekend, the Italian tire manufacturer has selected the softest compounds in the F1 range. The teams will have access to the C3, C4, and C5 tires and will use them to test the ATA (Alternative Tyre Allocation). This new format requires the mandatory use of a slick tire for each qualifying session: Hard in Q1, Medium in Q2, and Soft in Q3. Of course, this rule is waived in wet sessions, where teams can use the tire compound of their choice. With the ATA, the number of sets per car is reduced to 11, instead of the usual 13, and teams will have 3 sets of Hard, 4 sets of Medium, and 4 sets of Soft tires. Special attention should be paid to temperatures, which could reach high values during the summer period. Furthermore, the circuit’s location hinders air circulation, making the Hungarian round very challenging in terms of tire thermal management.