After the conclusion of the first triple-header of the season, racing is back after a two-week gap for the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix as we get close to the summer break.
With multiple teams getting in the mix for wins, not only has it ignited the championship race, it will also soon have its effect on the driver market.
As racing moves to Hungary for the penultimate Grand Prix before the season’s summer break, here’s my preview and predictions for the race.
Multiple front-runners?
With the 2022 and 2023 Formula One seasons being a one-man show with Max Verstappen taking the reins with ease, the 2024 season looked like it might go the same way. Almost half-way through the season, though, this year has been one of the most-exciting ones in recent history. Twelve races in, and we already have six different winners from four Constructors.
With Red Bull not having the fastest machinery on multiple weekends, it’s been advantage McLaren for majority of the season. Ideally, McLaren should be sitting pretty with at least four wins this season, but their strategies and driver errors from Lando Norris leave them with only one.
Mercedes have won back-to-back races, meanwhile, with George Russell triumphing in Austria and Lewis Hamilton picking up his first win in almost a thousand days in front of his home crowd at the British Grand Prix. And finally, we have Verstappen, who has been driving out of his skin to make sure Red Bull are in contention for the win every weekend regardless of who has the fastest car.
Heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix, we will once again have Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren in the mix for the win, with Verstappen and Norris holding the advantage.
Pole Predictions: Max Verstappen / Lando Norris
Race Win Prediction: Red Bull / McLaren
Shooting themselves in the foot
While McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull have all been regularly stepping up when needed, its the Scuderia who have been struggling massively. Ferrari are currently second in the Constructors’ Standings but are being crept upon by Mercedes. They have been woeful with the strategies in the last couple of races, especially with regards to Charles Leclerc, who has been on the wrong end of some shocking calls from the team.
The Italian team are at risk of losing their second spot in the Constructors’ if they go on to have another poor weekend in Hungary, and given the trajectory of their recent form, one can expect Ferrari to have another tough weekend.
Chances slipping away
Red Bull remain top of both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Standings, but that is due to one man only, Verstappen. His teammate, Sergio Pérez, who recently signed a contract extension with the team, has been having a horrific run, having finished only twice in the points in the last four races.
Pérez has been having a tough time on Saturdays in Qualifying, which has been hampering his races on Sundays, and although he is locked in with the team on a multi-year deal, the Mexican driver knows that his spot will be under threat should his performances not take an upward trajectory soon.
Pérez lies sixth in the Drivers’ Standings, and although he has the second fastest machinery on the grid, he has his task cut out. However, with his back against the wall, Pérez is a gritty customer, so expect him to bounce back strongly in Hungary.
Dark Horse: Sergio Pérez
Also read: Formula One Sponsors 2024
Hungarian Grand Prix 2024 Race Details
Circuit: Hungaroring
Venue: Mogyoród, Pest County
Practice Session 1 time: 17:00, July 19
Practice Session 2 time: 20:30, July 19
Practice Session 3 time: 16:00, July 20
Qualifying time: 19:30, July 20
Main race time: 18:30, July 21
Where to watch: F1 TV Pro / FanCode
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