Weekend Warm-Up | 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix

Introduction

Welcome to the Weekend Warm-Up

12 races down, 12 to go. Formula 1 arrives at the Hungaroring for race number 13. With six different winners this season, the weekend is wide open. Welcome to the weekend warm-up!

Hello and a warm welcome down to the paddock. We are mercifully standing in the shade, but it has been boiling all day and is set to be all weekend as well. Joining us is Lawrence Barretto and Alice Powell, now part of the F1 TV family.

Alice: "Thanks for having me, guys. You all good?"

Lawrence: "All good, looking forward to a very warm weekend."

Lawrence jokes about driving into the track and admits he's not too sure about being a passenger with her.

The Hungarian Grand Prix

Lawrence: "Here we are in beautiful Budapest. The organizers have done a lot of improvements to the circuit with new grandstands and enhanced paddock buildings. It's set for some fantastic races."

Alice: "Fans were already in the grandstands earlier. The atmosphere is amazing. Looking forward to the driver-engineer track walk."

Recap: Silverstone

If you missed the British Grand Prix, where on Earth were you?

Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and the rest had a thrilling race. Lewis Hamilton won, and the Mercedes team was ecstatic.

Focus on Mercedes

Alice: "Can we firmly say now that Mercedes are back and fighting at the front every weekend?"

Lawrence acknowledged that Mercedes would be strong contenders, especially at the Hungaroring, which suits their car. He also praised their upgrades which seem to be working well.

Sprint Race Calendar Announcement

The sprint races for 2025 have been announced: China, Miami, Belgium, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar.

Lawrence: "Brazil is my favorite. We always seem to get a cracker there."

Strategy Insights with Ruth Buscombe

Ruth Buscombe gives a detailed strategic briefing about the Hungarian Grand Prix, focusing on past races, tire management, and the importance of qualifying.

Lawrence: "What did you make of those qualifying gaps?"

Alice: "Perez's form is a worry, but there's a lot of competition amongst the teams. It'll be a thrilling weekend."

McLaren: On the Rise

Alice and Lawrence discuss McLaren's chances. Lawrence points out that McLaren now has the chance to win, but questions if they can execute a perfect race. Alice adds that it’s a good problem to have when you're at the top.

Ferrari’s Hopes

Charles Leclerc remains optimistic despite recent difficulties. Lawrence emphasizes Leclerc’s growing confidence and Ferrari’s attempts to resolve their bouncing issues.

Kevin Magnussen and Haas

Kevin Magnussen speaks about his departure from Haas and future options. Alice notes that it’s an emotional time, while Lawrence highlights the team's respect for Kevin’s contributions.

Alice and Lawrence discuss possible replacements for Magnussen, hinting at Nyck de Vries.

Alpine: Need for Improvement

Alice: "Where do they go from here?"

Lawrence believes Alpine started strong but acknowledges that other teams have caught up. They debate on who could be Pierre Gasly's potential new teammate.

Aston Martin's Developments

With incoming technical staff like Eric Blandin and Andy Cowell, the team is strengthening its core. Adrian Newey’s rumored move to Aston Martin is highlighted as a potential game-changer.

Williams Struggles

Alex admits Williams will have a tough weekend due to the Hungaroring's layout.

Weekend program

Details of the weekend's events, including practice sessions and qualifying, are previewed.

Predictions

Lawrence suggests McLaren will feature prominently. Alice and Lawrence both predict Mercedes as strong contenders with Hamilton and Lando Norris likely to shine.

The show wraps with teasers for exciting highlights in the race weekend.

Keywords

Hungarian Grand Prix
Formula 1
Hungaroring
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
Lando Norris
Charles Leclerc
Kevin Magnussen
Haas
Alpine
McLaren
Sprint Races
Strategy

FAQ

What improvements have been made to the Hungaroring for this year's race? The organizers have added new grandstands and enhanced paddock buildings.

Who is predicted to win the Hungarian Grand Prix? Predictions suggest McLaren and Mercedes, with drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri likely to shine.

What are the new locations for the 2025 sprint races? The 2025 sprint races will be held in China, Miami, Belgium, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar.

What is Kevin Magnussen’s future after leaving Haas? While Kevin Magnussen acknowledges exploring options within F1, he remains open to competing in other racing series or taking a developmental role with Haas.

Why is Ferrari optimistic for the Hungarian Grand Prix? Ferrari has made tweaks to their car's floor to address bouncing issues and have accumulated knowledge to make a step forward from this weekend onward.

What challenges do Williams face for the Hungarian Grand Prix? Williams will struggle due to the track layout which doesn't suit their car, with both Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant preparing for a tough race.