What is the fastest strategy?
Teams have been caught out a bit this weekend after struggling with the hard compound as it slipped and wore in hot conditions on Friday, making it comfortably slower than the medium and soft. The result of this is that a one-stop strategy is suddenly much harder to execute without the hard one, making it a theoretically faster two-stop strategy. READ MORE: Russell beats Sainz to take shock top spot at Hungaroring as Red Bulls struggle But don’t forget that these Pirelli calculations are made without a number of variables that vary from team to team, as strategists for each manufacturer have to factor in things like specific tire use and traffic. So when it comes to the fastest way to end a race, starting on the soft compound is considered best as it will allow for the best launch off the line for one of the longest runs in Round 1 this season. Then the chance to make up positions would follow a first pass between 16-21 laps before switching to the medium tyre. The middle stint would be anything up to 32 laps depending on how early the first stop is made, with a second pit window between Lap 42 and 48 for another set of middles. Depending on possible Safety Car interruptions and with the fuel load running low, there is also the option of switching to soft tires instead of the last run, although this is more likely to react to race conditions and come around Lap 50 .
How about a different pick for the top 10?
The problem with the above two-stop strategy is that it will give up track position at a track that is known to be difficult to pass and there is a slight unknown as to how difficult it will be to pass on the track this year. The new regulations have seen much closer racing so far this season and drivers can push behind another car. But that doesn’t mean overtaking is easy, and so it’s possible that teams prefer to make fewer stops so they don’t risk getting stuck behind a slower car and ruining their strategy. READ MORE: Russell’s big chance, Red Bull’s recovery and the risk of rain – What to watch for at the Hungarian GP The fastest one-stop option uses the hard compound, but starts in the middle and reaches a pit window between Lap 26 and Lap 34, before switching to the hard and running all the way to the finish. It’s still a long time for the drivers to deal with the hard tire wear and tire wear could become a limiting factor if they slip even further than on Friday, but despite the slower pace they are likely to be able to to defend their position. This one stop is predicted to be only three to four seconds slower than the fastest two-stop strategy, showing how tempting it will be for teams to prioritize the smaller number of pit stops. The danger, however, is if it’s easier to overtake, then drivers can be vulnerable to the hard line-up in the second half of the race.
What are the options for the bottom half of the pitch?
There is another one-stop option that requires even more tire management because it uses the soft compound for the first stint of the race. The attraction here is to start with the fastest set-up which will provide the best launch off the line, with nearly half a kilometer to go from pole position to the first braking zone to use that extra grip. FACTS AND STATISTICS: Hamilton and Verstappen both start outside the top 6 for first time since 2018 after qualifying in Hungary The challenge will be to extend the first high fuel interval quite a bit, with the need to get as close as possible to lap 25 before switching to the hard compound to get to the end. With a 70-lap race, this would leave a final gap of 45 laps. For a different two-stop option, there is the option to use all three compounds throughout the match. Starting on the middle tyre, a more aggressive first stint would be possible before the tires between the 20th and 25th laps. From there the hard won’t need to be managed as much, with drivers able to push harder to try and maintain the temperature – which is critical for hard work – before pitting for a set of softs at any time. after Round 48. ON BOARD: Ride with Russell as he bids for his maiden pole position in Budapest Doing a two-stop strategy that uses two sets of softs – with a middle position on the mediums – is also only likely to be taken seriously by those outside the top ten who have an extra set of softs available for the race they did.” t use in qualifiers.
Wait, but what’s the weather doing?
The fact that there are so many possible permutations shows that even teams are unlikely to be clear on their ideal plan, and that’s because the weather has changed significantly since Friday. Practice temperatures were well into the 30s and track temperatures were in the high 50s, but even so the hard tire didn’t perform particularly well. The race is set to be held in temperatures that are around 10C cooler and on a track that has seen quite a bit of rain over the past 24 hours, so the grip level is not as high as it would normally be. All this makes it more difficult to understand how the tires will react and choose a strategy. TOP: Watch action from remarkable qualifying session in Budapest as Russell seals first F1 pole After some heavy showers and thunderstorms on Saturday, there is a risk of rain for the race as well, although the forecast suggests the best chance is in a four-hour window before the lights go out. Even if it does not continue to rain until the start of the race, if there is enough before the start, then there is a chance of a wet track due to the lower ambient temperatures compared to the previous days.
