Racetrackmasters

Mercedes has ultimately admitted that its decision not to bring in Lewis Hamilton at the end of the second formation lap in Hungary was the “wrong” call. The second standing start at the Hungaroring was the scene of a historic first for Formula 1, with a single car – Hamilton’s Mercedes – lining up on the grid while the remainder of the field was in the pits undergoing tyre changes. Given the near bone dry track encountered by everyone on the formation lap, Mercedes’ decision not to bring in Hamilton appeared bizarre and ultimately forced the seven-time world champion to pit a lap later which started an afternoon chase from behind. After the race in which Hamilton finished third, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff insisted the Brackley squad had actually made the right call not to pit the Briton. But in Mercedes’ race debrief on YouTube, technical director Mike Elliot admitted that the team’s strategists had indeed made the wrong choice. “Clearly in hindsight we made the wrong choice, but you have to bear in mind those decisions are really, really tricky,” said Elliot. “We agonised over what tyre to fit at the very start of the race, as it turned out the inter was definitely the right choice because it started raining on the lap to the grid. “We agonised over what tyre to fit after the red flag and clearly all of the cars fitted inters. And on that lap to the grid, even though all the drivers had fitted inters, clearly others decided to change their mind and we should have too. “But the reality is, it’s actually more difficult for us as a team than it is for the other teams. When you are the front car, you can’t see what everybody else is doing. “You are the lead car. When you are further back in the chain, you can see what others have done and you can change your mind accordingly. You can use that new evidence to your advantage.” Despite the wrong call, Eliott explained that bringing Hamilton in at the end of the formation lap would not have played to the latter’s advantage as the Briton would have remained stranded in his pit box while the queue of cars rolled by. “The second problem for us is that we have the first pit box in the pit lane,” Elliot explained. “So, as we’d have come into the pit lane and we’d boxed, all the cars would have been pouring past and it would have been very difficult for Lewis to get out and that would have delayed us. “The second problem with that or same problem, but another way of looking at it, is if we had tried to force our way out into the pit lane we could have collided with another car and we actually saw that happen in that sequence of pit stops.”

Sebastian Vettel has been excluded from the result of the Hungarian Grand Prix after his Aston Martin teams failed to provide sufficient fuel from his car after the race to meet regulations. According to the decision handed down by the FIA race stewards it was not possible to take a 1.0 litre sample of fuel from Vettel’s car after the race, stating that though “the team was given several opportunities to attempt to remove the required amount of fuel from the tank, however it was only possible to pump 0.3 litres out”. The stewards’ decision added: “During the hearing in presence of the FIA Technical Delegate and the FIA Technical Director the team principal of Aston Martin stated that there must be 1,44 litres left in the tank, but they are not able to get it out. This figure is calculated using the FFM or injector model. “Given this situation, car No. 5 is not in compliance with the requirements of Art. 6.6 FIA Technical Regulations. According to Art. 6.6.2 competitors must ensure that a 1.0 litre sample of fuel may be taken from the car at any time. The procedure was followed however the 1.0 litre sample of fuel was unable to be taken. “The Stewards determine to apply the standard penalty for technical infringements. Therefore they took into account, that it shall be no defence to claim that no performance advantage was obtained.” The decision therefore was that “Car 5 (Vettel) is disqualified from the results of the Race”. While Aston Martin have the right to appeal, Vettel’s exclusion from the result promotes Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to second place in the result with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz claiming third. Haimilton will therefore will go into Formula 1’s summer break with an eight-point Driver’s Championship lead over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, while Mercedes now lead the Constructors’ Championship with 303 points, 12 ahead of Red Bull.

Last week Honda boss Toyoharu Tanabe announced that the second engine of Max Verstappen was damaged after the crash at Silverstone. After qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix it appeared that the engine even needed to be replaced, which meant that he already had to use his third engine, halfway through the season. Max Verstappen had a margin on the maximum allowed until the Hungarian Grand Prix. He was working on his second engine and had not yet replaced his ES and CE. Prior to qualifying Red Bull Racing decided to replace the ES, but after qualifying, Honda found out about the crack in the engine. As a result, the ICE, TC, MGU-H and MGU-K of the Dutchman had to be replaced. That change means Verstappen is at the limit of the engines he can use before incurring grid penalties. The second engine is currently in Japan to investigate whether repairs are possible. For Red Bull it would be beneficial if they could use the second engine as well, otherwise grid penalties seem unavoidable. If repair is not an option, Red Bull will have to investigate which circuit is the most favourable for a grid penalty and where overtaking is possible. A quick glance at the calendar shows that Spa and Monza are the best options. Zandvoort will be out of the question for Red Bull and Verstappen, as overtaking is not easy here. At Monza, the sprint format will be tested again, which would be an option for Red Bull to collect points on Saturday, as the grid penalty will only be introduced on Sunday for the real Grand Prix. Verstappen is not the only one with concerns about the engine and grid penalties. Earlier on, Ferrari also announced that they will almost certainly incur grid penalties due to the starting crash in Hungary. In the battle for the championship, it will also be important for Red Bull to avoid grid penalties at the right race. Mercedes are still on their second engine and don’t seem to be having any major problems with reliability. It will become clear after the break whether Verstappen will receive any grid penalties this year.

Despite losing the lead in the Drivers’ Championship, Max Verstappen isn’t disheartened as he is “absolutely sure” he is faster than Lewis Hamilton. Recording his first-ever hat-trick of wins in Formula 1 – France, Styria, Austria – Verstappen went into the British Grand Prix leading Hamilton by 32 points. He left eight points ahead of the Mercedes driver after a crash on the opening lap meant he retired for only the second time this season. Determined to bounce back in Hungary and put the Silverstone drama behind him, Verstappen instead “again taken out by a Mercedes”, this time Valtteri Bottas. The Finn got it horribly wrong at Turn 1 on the opening lap, causing a multi-car crash that badly damaged Verstappen’s RB16B. Running in a car with “less downforce” than a Haas, he could only manage P9 on the day while Hamilton brought his Mercedes home in second place to take an eight-point lead in the standings. Verstappen says he’ll bounce back, after all he is “absolutely sure” he’s the faster of the two title rivals. “I’m sure we can make it an exciting battle,” the 23-year-old told De Telegraaf. “We still have a good chance of winning and should not suddenly give up. “I see it this way: I can still go faster than anyone in a car. There is also something in it. “I am absolutely sure that I am faster than Lewis. “For me it works very well to think like that. If I didn’t think so, I’d be better off staying at home.”

Race Director, Michael Masi has clarified why four drivers were handed reprimands for wearing T-Shirts ahead of Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Following last year’s Tuscany Grand Prix, race-winner Lewis Hamilton faced investigation for wearing a slogan emblazoned T-Shirt. Before the race, and again on the podium, the world champion sported a black T-Shirt which read “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” on the front and “say her name” on the back, along with a picture of Ms Taylor. It was thought the T-Shirt breached FIA’s statutes that require that competitors “refrain from manifesting discrimination on account of race, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, family situation or disability in the course of its activities”, while the sporting code forbids competitors from “affixing to their automobiles advertising that is political or religious in nature or that is prejudicial to the interests of the FIA”. However, days later, ahead of the Russian Grand Prix, the FIA clarified the rules. (As usual) “once out of their cars, the top three Drivers will be weighed by the FIA near their cars” said race director, Michael Masi in his race notes, adding that “Each Driver must remain fully attired until after they have been weighed (e.g.: Helmet, Gloves, etc.).” However, a new clause stated that: “For the duration of the Podium Ceremony and Post Race Interview Procedure, the Drivers finishing in race in positions 1, 2, 3 must remain attired only in their Driving Suits, ‘done up’ to the neck, not opened to the waist. “For the duration of the TV pen interviews and FIA Post Race Press Conference, all Drivers finishing must remain attired in their respective teams’ uniform only. “For the avoidance of doubt this includes a Medical Face Mask or Team Branded Face Mask.” As F1 ramped up its We Race As One message, drivers were allowed to wear T-Shirts ahead of the race but not during the national anthems. On Sunday, Valtteri Bottas, Sebastian Vettel, Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz were still wearing theirs during the anthem, and were subsequently handed (non-driving) reprimands. The move led to the inevitable outcry on social media, especially in respect of Vettel who was wearing a ‘Same Love’ Pride shirt. “Earlier this year we clarified (the rules),” says Masi. “And following discussion internally with the FIA and F1, we said we wanted to keep giving all of the drivers the ability to have the moment to show effectively their support for We Race as One however they chose, but then the national anthem for a particular country should be respected with drivers all wearing their race suits. “So it was clarified and made very clear that once that moment was displayed and the drivers showed their recognition they would have to remove their shirt or anything else they wore and go to the national anthem in their race uniform. “And that’s been the same for a number of events now, so this is the first event where it has happened since and all of those drivers that kept their shirts on, it wasn’t just Sebastian, there were four or five drivers, all received a non-driving reprimand for failing to follow the race director’s instructions. “It was observed by a number of people including the media delegate who is out there, and myself on television. It went from me to the stewards, it was a breach and that’s why it was a reprimand for the first offence.” Asked, since a reprimand could ultimately lead to a grid penalty, if the punishment was somewhat harsh, Masi said: “You look at all penalties on the basis of what it is. Reprimands are the lowest penalty other than a warning, which really is not a penalty, it’s a warning. “A non-driving reprimand, so you need to have two driving reprimands and one non-driving to ultimately get to a grid penalty. But as an example, three non-driving reprimands it doesn’t have that impact.”

Ralf Schumacher thinks it will be important for Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing not to get too distracted by Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. The former Formula 1 driver sees all sorts of distraction tactics, but Verstappen and his team are coping well with them so far. “Max has had bad luck twice now, but he has put in an incredible performance so far. Even when the Red Bull isn’t running well, he’s getting the best out of the car,” Schumacher eulogised in his column with Sky. Thanks to two unfortunate Grands Prix, he has had to relinquish the lead in the world championship. “But I don’t think he will overcompensate in the second half of the season because he has matured now”. That maturity also struck Jacques Villeneuve earlier. It is an important quality if you want the world title in Formula 1, according to Schumacher. “You’ve seen that all season and it was badly needed. Of course, Lewis is trying all sorts of things to get him off his back, but he doesn’t stand a chance with Max this year. For Red Bull, it will be important to focus on the essentials and not constantly react to Mercedes’ distraction tactics.” At the Grand Prix at Silverstone, Hamilton bowled his big Dutch rival out of the race. There will be many more clashes to come, it is predicted. “I don’t think Lewis and Max have clashed for the last time. The closer it gets to the end of the championship, the harder it will become. For us as spectators that’s great because we can look forward to mega exciting races,” the 46-year-old German concluded.

Red Bull Formula 1 boss Christian Horner says the first-corner mayhem that took both of his drivers out of contention at the Hungarian Grand Prix highlighted “the brutality of racing”. For the second race in a row Red Bull lost one of its drivers on the opening lap due to a Mercedes as Valtteri Bottas triggered carnage at the start of Sunday’s drama-filled wet-to-dry Hungarian GP. Having misjudged his braking point, Bottas rear-ended Lando Norris, whose McLaren then smashed into the side of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. The impact caused substantial damage to Verstappen’s car and ruined his race, with the Dutchman only able to salvage a point in 10th place. Bottas’ out of control Mercedes went on to hit Perez, who was forced to retire. “I don’t think there was anything we could do,” Horner said of the start. “That’s the brutality of racing, isn’t it? “I think that, unfortunately, you saw Valtteri make a poor start, he obviously misjudged his braking and he’s done a great job for Mercedes in taking out both of our cars. “There was a significant amount of damage. It cost another engine with Sergio and obviously Max was then hugely compromised.” To further compound a miserable Sunday, Red Bull fears it has lost another Honda power unit due to the hit that Perez took in the Turn 1 melee. “It lost all its water immediately,” Horner explained. “We’ll have to look into it in more detail, but the initial reports are it will no longer be in service.” Asked if there was any hope of getting to the end of the season without needing a fourth engine for either Verstappen or Perez, Horner replied: “Very little, I’m afraid. “And that’s hugely frustrating for Honda because it’s not due to reliability, it’s because of accidents that we haven’t caused. So they’re feeling the brunt of this as well as we are on the chassis side. “It’s not to be underestimated on the cost cap side, it’s something that does need to be looked at it because it is in a cost cap environment. It’s brutal.”

The FIA confirmed on Sunday evening that it had received a notice of intention to appeal the decision of the Hungarian GP whereby the race stewards disqualified Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel on Sunday evening after the finish of the race – For now, Vettel’s finishing position and points have been reinstated. The four-time world champion – who finished the Hungarian Grand Prix in second place – was ultimately disqualified for a non-compliance the minimum amount of fuel in his car’s tank at the finish of the race. Indeed, the race stewards must be able to take a litre of fuel from each tank after the race, which was not possible in Sebastian Vettel’s car. The Aston Martin driver had only 0.3 litres of fuel left in the tank, while the regulations state that at least one litre should remain to allow sufficient samples of the fuel to be taken. Officially, Sebastian Vettel has been disqualified, but his team has notified the FIA of his intention to appeal the stewards’ decision. In these conditions, the German’s car was placed under seal from Sunday evening and all points and race finishing position reinstated. According to Germany’s Automotor und Sport, the appeal is unlikely to succeed as modern Formula 1 power units prove nearly impossible to physically remove the fuel system, where Aston Martin believes there’s the correct amount of fuel waiting to be tested. The FIA wasn’t able to test the fuel due to a faulty pump, hence the original penalty.

Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll have both been given five-place grid penalties for the next race in Belgium as a result of the chaotic start to this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Bottas suffered a poor start and then braked too late into the first corner, the mercedes running into the side of Lando Norris’ McLaren and pushing it into Max Verstappen whose Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez was also taken out. “Immediately after the start, in the braking zone to turn 1, car 77 collided with the rear of car 4,” and official statement from the stewards said. “The stewards took into consideration the track conditions however the driver of car 77 was fully to blame for the collision.” As well as a five place drop in Spa, Bottas has also received two penalty points on his F1 superlicence. “I had a poor start,” the Finn said later. “Wheel spin off the line, and lost places, and then braking into first corner I was right in the gearbox of Lando. “I just locked the wheels so probably being that close didn’t calculate quite right the braking point, locked two wheels, hit him, and then it was a mess.” Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll also received a five place grid drop and two penalty points for a separate incident in which he out-braked himself down the inside into the same corner into Charles Leclerc, and tipping Daniel Ricciardo into a spin. They weren’t the only drivers making a visit to the stewards office after the end of a wet and wild race.

Valtteri Bottas admits that it was his misjudgement that caused the huge incident at Turn 1 on the opening lap of the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver had a poor start in the damp conditions and then got his braking point wrong, which caused him to lock up and hit the back of Lando Norris in the McLaren. Norris then knocked the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. The race was red-flagged and Norris and Perez were both forced to retire, whilst Verstappen continued but struggled due to remaining damage on his car. Bottas later received a five-place grid penalty and is willing to take the blame for what happened. “Obviously it’s my mistake,” the Finn told the media. “I was the one coming from behind, and it’s up to me to brake early enough, but I misjudged the braking point. “It shows it’s not so easy in those conditions to predict, but I should have braked earlier because when I started braking I was closing in, and then I locked the wheels and I hit Lando. That caused the whole mess, so [it was] a misjudgement and my mistake.” Bottas is accepting of the penalty that he was given, which will be taken at the next race in Belgium following the summer break. “I’ll take it,” Lewis Hamilton’s teammate said. “Obviously it’s not ideal, but at least in the next race it is possible to overtake, so it’s not like the weekend is over. “It’s going to make it more difficult, but that’s the decision. That’s what it is.” Given the impact of what happened on Norris and Perez’s races, Bottas apologised to them and wanted to make it clear that he was not blaming anybody else for the incident. “It was clear that I started the Turn 1 mess at the front,” Bottas explained. “I said it was my bad, so they know that I’m not trying to blame anyone else. “So that’s what I do, I accept the mistake.”

After the race in Hungary, both Esteban Ocon and Sebastian Vettel came to a stop on the track. In the case of Ocon because he forgot that he had to enter the pits after the run-out lap. He did not receive a penalty for this. Sebastian Vettel however is facing a penalty, as he was stranded with an empty tank. This could have major consequences. The regulations state that the cars must have at least one litre of fuel in the tank at the end of the race. This is sufficient for the FIA to analyse them properly. From Vettel’s car they could only get 0,3 litre out of the tank. Normally an infringement of this rule leads to disqualification. A representative of Aston Martin had to report to the race control at 20:20. If Vettel is indeed disqualified, it would mean that both Hamilton and Verstappen move up a place. However, Hamilton would gain three points and Verstappen just one.

Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said he suspects he has long COVID, after suffering dizziness and fatigue in the aftermath of a hard-fought Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday. “Everything got a bit blurry on the podium,” said the 36-year-old, who had to be looked over by his Mercedes team doctor after a flat-out charge from last to third around the twisting Hungaroring. “I’ve been fighting all year, really, with staying healthy after what happened at the end of last year. “It’s still a battle.” Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss last year’s penultimate Sakhir Grand Prix in December. The Briton was back in action at the final race in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 13, where he finished third after testing negative but reported feeling the after-effects of the disease. On Sunday, he said those effects had lingered. “I haven’t spoken to anyone particularly about it but I think it is lingering,” said Hamilton, who turned an eight-point deficit to Red Bull rival Max Verstappen into a six-point lead with his drive on Sunday. “I remember when I had it, training’s been different since then, the levels of fatigue that you get, it’s different. “Who knows what it is today, maybe its hydration, I don’t know. But I’ve definitely not had that experience. “I had something similar in Silverstone but it’s just way worse,” added the Briton who took his fourth win of the season at the British track two weeks ago. The 4.3-kilometre Hungaroring with its constant twists and turns is a physically demanding track. The race is also often hot. Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas compared his Mercedes cockpit to a Finnish sauna on Friday. Hamilton said he “gave it everything” in his bid to chase down surprise winner Esteban Ocon, who took his maiden victory, and second-placed four-time champion Sebastian Vettel. “It was a really hard race in general,” said Ocon, sitting alongside Hamilton in the post-race news conference. “This track with the heat, the humidity, the corners, you don’t have a breather here. I feel flat, I feel completely dead as well. I tell you I will have a good sleep tonight.”