Hungary: pre-qualifying 2020


And so we leave picturesque Styria for the rather flatter Hungaroring. Passing’s very hard and safety cars are historically unlikely, but the circuit has thrown up some classics over the years, so the weekend might yet live up to the last two races.

Rumours abound that Vettel might get Perez’s seat next season. We shall see.

In shocking news, Hamilton topped first practice, with Bottas less than a tenth behind. Half a second down the road was Perez, four-tenths ahead of Stroll. Ricciardo, Vettel, and Leclerc were next, with Verstappen, Norris, and Ocon rounding out the top 10.

Second practice was soggy, starting with full wets and ending with inters. Only 13 chaps set times. Of these, Vettel was quickest with Bottas a couple of tenths behind. More than a second further back was Sainz, then came Stroll and Perez, ahead of Gasly, Verstappen, Grosjean, Raikkonen, and Leclerc.

Not the most illuminating of sessions.

In third practice Bottas was fastest, less than a tenth ahead of Hamilton. Perez was looking good in third, just a tenth and a half off the top slot, and two-tenths ahead of Leclerc. Stroll and Verstappen followed (the Dutchman had a spin in practice, the Red Bull perhaps looking twitchy), with Norris, Vettel, Gasly, and Ricciardo rounding out the top 10.

My qualifying thoughts drift to Bottas perhaps for pole and Perez maybe to be top 3, if that’s available (I suspect each way will only be top 2).

Bottas is 3.5 for pole, which may be value… tight though. Too tight to make the each way worthwhile so if I back this it might be with Betfair even with slightly shorter odds.

Perez is 21, but may require a Mercedes failure to end up breaking into the top 2. Annoying the each way is only for the front row.

Second session was wet but in the dry first and third there was less than a tenth between Hamilton and his teammate. Decided to back on Betfair at 3.35, at the time of writing, and set up a hedge at 1.5.

Morris Dancer

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