16 July 2024 11:00 (UTC)
"The whole team is going into this race with a lot of confidence and motivation"
The week’s break between the British and Hungarian Grands Prix allowed us the chance to rest up after a hectic triple header, enjoy a few days at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and do a deep dive into the year’s data to date.
Lando and Oscar have both been back at base working with the team and completing laps on the simulator as we prepare for another double-header. First up is the Hungaroring, one of F1’s most storied circuits and home to 11 McLaren victories.
We spoke with Lando and Oscar while they were at the McLaren Technology Centre and asked what they love most about the Hungaroring. We’ve also compiled a guide to the circuit, an F1 icebreaker and an explanation of another tricky F1 term.
“It was good to have some time to recharge and reset after a busy couple of weeks. I was back at the MTC with the team to celebrate the last three races. While at the factory, I was able to jump in the sim and go over everything we’ve learned ahead of Hungary.
“I’m looking forward to returning to Hungary. Qualifying is important here, as it isn’t an easy track to overtake at, but we’ll be competitive. It’s incredible to be in a position to lead a Grand Prix, but there is some more work to do. We’re ready!”
“I’m heading to Hungary off the back of two strong weekends in Austria and Great Britain where I’ve been happy with my driving. We had some missed opportunities at Silverstone but it was clear that there was good pace in the car and that is encouraging.
“The Hungaroring is a track that I had success at in the junior formulae so I’m looking forward to returning. The whole team is going into this race with a lot of confidence and motivation.”
“With the British Grand Prix over, we’re now past halfway into the 2024 season. It’s a good time to reflect on how far we’ve come. We’re in good standing in the Constructors’ Championship, thanks to both our drivers and the incredible team we have at McLaren, and have outscored our closest competitors over the past few events. That consistency is important if we are to challenge at the very top of our sport.
“Last week we took time to celebrate a successful triple header where we returned with three trophies and two Sprint race trophies. However, there’s more to be done. We’re encouraged to keep improving to ensure we keep the pressure on the competition. We’re prepared and looking forward to returning to the Hungaroring circuit.”
There’s a karting track located within metres of the Hungaroring, and it's often joked that it’s hard to tell the difference between the two, which isn’t entirely untrue. Jammed full of slow corners and with a lack of straights, the circuit does have the feel of a karting track.
It also feels somewhat similar to Monaco, but without the walls. High downforce and good grip are important for navigating the narrow winding turns in Hungary, and teams will generally prioritise Qualifying pace over race pace due to the lack of overtaking opportunities.
But that’s not to say it isn’t entertaining - far from it. There’s time to be gained from pushing the limits, but mistakes are punished, which makes for a scintillating watch. The circuit isn’t entirely devoid of overtaking opportunities either - Turns 10-12, in particular, are well worth your time as cars set themselves up for a move ahead of two tight turns and the main straight.
Unsurprisingly, Qualifying is a must-watch, as the circuit’s tight and technical nature really gets the best out of a Formula 1 car. The Hungaroring is also known to get a little dusty, which can result in a dramatic end to the session as the tarmac cleans up and becomes quicker.
The British Grand Prix was both painful and an excellent result. Third and fourth at our home race gained us another trophy and plenty of points, but given how close we came to winning, it did sting a little.
Lando and Oscar were both on top form all weekend as we continued our run of making Q3 in every race and collected an eighth consecutive podium. We also scored more points than any other team, which puts us within seven points of second and 74 ahead of fourth.
F1 is full of specialist slang and complicated jargon that can stump even the most avid of fans, which is why we’ll be explaining common F1 terminology ahead of each grand prix this season. This week, it’s bottoming.
Fans and photographers love to see it, but teams want to avoid it. Bottoming is why you’ll sometimes see the back of Formula 1 cars spark.
Teams will lower the ride height of their cars to keep the centre of gravity low, which creates aerodynamic downforce. However, the suspension compresses when the car is running at speed and in cornering, which further lowers the car, and this can cause it to touch and grind against the track surface. The friction of this slows the car down and cancels out the aerodynamic downforce created by running the car low.
The smoother the track surface, the less likely the car is to bottom out. Silverstone, for example, is a very smooth circuit, and that allows a team to run with a very low ride height. Whereas, the Hungaroring is much bumpier, so cars need a higher ride height to compensate.
Contrary to popular belief, the sparks caused by bottoming out aren’t due to the car being damaged. F1 cars have a plank underneath that is made out of a glass-reinforced plastic called permaglass. The plank is fixed with titanium plates called ‘skid blocks’, which stick out of the plank by roughly 3mm and cause the sparking. The skid blocks are there to protect the bottom of the car from being damaged.
Stuck for conversation with your F1-loving friends? Spark up a discussion with our F1 icebreaker…
Lewis Hamilton’s 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix victory for McLaren was the first hybrid engine victory in F1. 15 years later, Pato O’Ward’s win in Mid-Ohio made Arrow McLaren the first team to win in IndyCar’s hybrid engine era.
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