Hungary: post-race analysis 2020

A hectic race, but, sadly, not a profitable one. The Renault tip was plain wrong, and the Bottas one narrowly failed due to misfortune. However, given the tremendous fluke at Styria I can’t complain too much about the twists of fate.

It had rained before the start, with everyone set up with intermediate tyres, excepting Magnussen, who was on the full wet. Kvyat got on the radio to wisely suggest pitting at the end of the formation lap for slicks. His team refused, whereas Haas leapt at the opportunity and boxed both Magnussen and Grosjean.

Off the line both Bottas and Perez went backward at a rate of knots, the Finn slumping back to about seventh or so during the first lap. The Ferraris had a better start, but Hamilton easily retained his lead, as he would throughout the race.

Within a few laps the drying track compelled everyone except Haas to pit, putting Magnussen and Grosjean temporarily as high as third and fourth. Vettel and Sainz both suffered significant time loss due to pit lane traffic slowing their stops. However, the German was in a better place on his tyres than Leclerc, ahead on track (to the relief of the Haas ahead, at this point) and slowing down everyone including his teammate. Ferrari made the sensible call and Vettel was unleashed to go chasing down the Haas.

Stroll was passed by Bottas but there was still a large gap between the Finn and Verstappen. Hamilton had his name on the winner’s trophy already, but could his team mate pass Verstappen?

No. He closed right up on the final lap, wasn’t quite within striking distance and ran out of road. However, given he left the handbrake on at the start it does show that anything vaguely normal off the line would’ve seen Bottas top 2 very handily. But that didn’t happen and Verstappen drove well in an inferior car to get 2^nd. Hamilton had a late stop for the fastest lap to maximise his points tally and take the lead for the first time this season.

Stroll drove well and got himself and his team a valuable 4^th, whereas Perez’s ropey start meant he ended up 7^th. That’s still solid points for the team but he, like Bottas, could’ve done better. In the battle with McLaren this was a very good day for Racing Point.

Albon ended up 5^th, which will do him some good given he started around 13^th. He also passed Vettel late on, which was a nice way for his race to end.

Ferrari seemed markedly better this week, although it may be the shift of venue suited them. Vettel got 6^th, whereas Leclerc could only manage 11^th after losing a tussle with Sainz. A solitary point for McLaren looks pretty weak after some fantastic Austrian exploits. Norris was only 14^th.

Ricciardo got 8^th, which is ok, but Renault still (overall) don’t look as good as their close competitors. On the plus side (for them, annoyingly for my bet) neither his nor Ocon’s cars failed this time.

Magnussen was briefly as high as third but slumped down the order to 9^th. Given the lack of pace Haas has displayed so far, the strategic decision to switch to slicks before the start proved provident. Some good news for the team at last.

Top 10 drivers:

Hamilton 63

Bottas 58

Verstappen 33

Norris 26

Albon 22

Perez 22

Leclerc 18

Stroll 18

Sainz 14

Vettel 9

Two horse race at the front and it’d be surprising if Hamilton didn’t top that again. This ticks his win tally up to 86. Six more and the bet on him beating Schumacher’s record  (at 9) comes off). Behind him it’s more competitive, though over the course of the season I think Verstappen has 3^rd nailed on.

Teams:

Mercedes 121

Red Bull 55

McLaren 40

Racing Point 40

Ferrari 27

Renault 12

AlphaTauri 7

Alfa Romeo 2

Haas 2

Williams 0

Slightly weird pattern emerging with me getting all tips wrong, all tips right, and all tips wrong at the various weekends so far.

There’s no race next weekend, but after that we have back-to-back races at Silverstone.

Morris Dancer