 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, F1, AGP. (C) Enthralling, entertaining, emotional. There isn't enough superlatives to describe last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. With races like we had at the Hungaroring, there certainly isn't a lot wrong with Formula One. The race had it all.
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel secured his second victory for 2015. Team mate Kimi Raikkonen looked set to complete a 1-2 for the Scuderia until his Kinetic energy recovery system failed, thus limping into retirement. Red Bull's Daniil Kyvat acquired his maiden F1 podium, while team mate Daniel Ricciardo finished third after threatening for victory, showing the field that overtaking is definitely possible around the twisting Hungaroring. Championship protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg both had eventful races and for the first time this season were unable to stand on the podium for Mercedes. Rookie Max Verstappen achieved his best result in F1 with a mature drive to fourth. Have McLaren's fortunes finally started to change with a double points haul for the first time this season with their new Honda package? Williams slid backwards while struggling Sauber picked up a point with Marcus Ericsson claiming 10th position. Lotus' Romain Grosjean incurred a penalty for a pitlane unsafe release and held off Rosberg to finish 7th. The driver you had to sympathise with was Force India's Nico Hulkenburg who spectacularly retired with a front wing failure down the main straight. He looked set for a strong result. Fortunately he was not injured. Punctures, penalties and plenty of passing. It was compulsive viewing. The Hungarian GP was the culmination of an extremely emotional week following the passing of Jules Bianchi after a brave fight from the injuries sustained at last year's Japanese GP. Earmarked for a future Ferrari drive, Jules was extremely popular and well liked amongst F1 fraternity and fans worldwide. A touching ceremony before the race with the Bianchi family and all the drivers present. No doubt Jules would of been watching the Hungarian GP and been impressed with what he saw. Vale Jules Bianchi.
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 Ferrari, F1, AGP. (C) Recently a meeting of the Formula One Strategy Group legislated some interesting regulations to come into effect from this year's Belgium GP. No longer are drivers to receive coaching from their teams through radio communications during the formation lap. They are now to be solely responsible for propelling the car off the grid from the time they leave the pitlane to lights out.
In the past teams have been able to instruct their drivers on optimum settings attained from practise starts during the formation lap with a view to maximising the race start. The new rule translates to clutch bite points to be set before the car leaves the pitlane. Any manual offset switch or any other switch associated with clutch settings can only be adjusted after the race start for the purpose of improving subsequent pitstop getaways. This quite clearly puts the emphasis back on the drivers. Are formation lap procedures now more important than ever? Reigning champ and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton welcomes the new plan, citing driver only activated starts suit his driving style and are reminiscent of his Formula 3 days. In addition to coaching, all radio communications between the teams and the drivers during formation laps will be limited. The only permissible comms are on safety grounds only. Teams may inform drivers of punctures, whether to pit to fix damage. or to stop the car if sensing terminal damage. They may also warn of damage to a competitors' car, oil or debris on circuit, or whether the track is wet. Many will argue that the abolition or limiting of driver aids can only benefit F1 by promoting driver skill. However there are those that state that the pinnacle of motorsport should fully embrace technology and all it has to offer. Will the new rules create glaring disparity amongst the grid when the lights go out? Will drivers with a more discreet feel now be rewarded off the line? We'll start to get an idea at Spa. Cheers.... |
Will Brown, Red Bull Racing Aust., Supercars.
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Josh Buchan, HMO Customer Racing, TCR Aust. Series.
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