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Maybe Michael Schumacher will not dominate!
10 August 2004 Volume 6 - Issue 11


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I do not want to take anything away from Michael. He is the most successful driver yet and is obviously not thinking about retirement yet but how lucky is he?

The only time it looks as if another car is faster (in this case the McLaren that Raikkonen was piloting) something goes wrong with it and Michael wins with ease.

Both Button (BAR) and Alonso (Renault) were pretty fast too but did not have the grunt to race Michael. They are getting better but it will still be a while before they are as good as the Ferrari in Michaels' hands and by then the season will be over.

What is it with Barrichello? If I were paranoid (which I am not) I would believe that Ferrari are deliberately setting him up for failure but I can't believe that. I am starting to suspect that Barrichello is adopting radical strategies in the hope that he would miraculously finish in the lead. Whatever it is it has the opposite effect. When last did he look as if he was driving the same car as Michael?


As far as the Hungarian circuit is concerned, I essentially repeat what I said last year:

Hungaroring is the second slowest circuit of the season. (track layout)

There is only one spot where speed may get to 300km/H(186mph) and that is the main straight. This ends in a wickedly slow hairpin taken at less than 100km/H(62mph) and the slow sweep leading up to turn 2 will see the cars barely exceeding 200km/H(124mph) before braking to 80km/H(50mph) for this virtual hairpin too.

Accelerating through turn 3 the cars will again not get to 200km/H(124mph) before slowing slightly for turn 4, a left hand kink. Speed then drops down to just over 100km/H(62mph) through 5 and, after a quick squirt on the accelerator, 90km/H(56mph) through turns 6 and 7, a loose "S" formation.

After that it is constantly either on the accelerator or brakes as they make their way through turns 8, 9 and 10 gradually faster until braking for 11 which is relatively fast(180km/H or 112mph) before building to 240km/H(149mph) before turn 12.

Turn 13 is a slow (80km/H or 50mph) hairpin and speed will not get up to 200km/H(124mph) before braking to 125km/H(78mph) for turn 14 that exits into the main straight.

It will be a high downforce setup. That much is obvious from the track layout. What we do not know is how tyre wear will affect the race. I suspect that all teams will go out on a soft compound and if the track surface is very abrasive this may cause excessive tyre wear during the race.

Turn 14, that leads on to the main straight, is fast enough for aerodynamics to work and that will make the straight, which is the most obvious overtaking place, somewhat difficult for overtaking as there will be little time to make up lost ground. It is not a particularly long straight.

It may be possible to force a car to drive defensively through turns 8, 9 and 10 and take advantage of the balance and flow setup to scramble past but it looks very hard to do. We will just have to see.


Ferrari will struggle in Hungary. They have as little, if not less, mechanical grip as McLaren and both Renault and BAR appear to have higher mechanical grip.

Power does not matter on a circuit where aerodynamic grip counts this little. All of the leading teams, if not all of the teams, have more than enough power for Hungaroring.

All teams will go out with high downforce configurations but I expect Ferrari, McLaren and possibly Williams to border on extreme.

Renault has a great chance to close the gap to Ferrari a little but more importantly extend their lead to BAR and consolidating their second place in the championship.

Alonso and Trulli are both adept at slower circuits but if BAR get their setup right Button could be a tough adversary. His car control and self control is awesome.

Sato is also fast providing that he keeps the red mist at bay. Occasionally he seems to get too intense and that is when things go wrong.

None of the other teams, in my opinion, have a chance. The order may change a little in midfield but I do not see them fighting for the lead. My money is on Renault.

It should be an exciting race - don't miss it!

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