In this, the last instalment of Formula 1 action before the summer break, both the driver’s championship and constructors standings are neck and neck. With all teams wanting to go into the break on the back of a good performance, this could be a huge weekend for so many different driver’s who’s future’s, hang in the respective balances. After a successful and accurate predictions article for our last race at Silverstone, Joe Murphy from Wheel2Wheel reports, looks ahead to this weekend’s action from Budapest.
A still sore Max to be too eager in forcing redemption…
Max Verstappen will be me more keen than anyone to make up for events last time out. Following a strong qualifying sprint race where he ‘pulled away’ from the competition with ease, Sunday was less pleasant, at no fault of his own. The appeal into the penalty Lewis Hamilton received ultimately came up unfounded. There is little doubt that this will still be playing on the Dutchman’s mind. If we find ourselves with our familiar title chasing duo starting P1 and P2 on Sunday (which is likely), then expect Max to give no room to Lewis. Max will have his shoulders out and then some if ahead, whereas he will force his way through from behind, perhaps at turn two or three. It is this writer’s outlandish prediction that tension could be so high, these drivers end up taking each other out, paving the way for a different winner.
Some light this weekend for V.B…
On what could be a career making weekend for the Finn at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas needs a strong showing here. He lost out at the restarts, something which has happened frequently this season but also something which is going to have to change, if Bottas has any chance of keeping his seat for next season. With Lewis Hamilton confirmed, Valtteri will have to keep his seat from George Russell. With, as you would expect, the two ahead of him fighting it out ahead, the win could easily be between Valtteri and Sergio Perez, not accounting for unlikely candidates such as Charles Leclerc or Lando Norris. Bottas is long due a run of fortune, and you can expect him to be the one to capitalise on errors ahead. A win this way seems the most likely outcome, with this track being a strong one for Max Verstappen and, arguably, Lewis Hamilton’s strongest circuit.
Time for the smooth operator to shine?
Carlos Sainz produced a stellar effort last week to claim an impressive 6th place in the British Grand Prix. An uncharacteristically slow pit stop coupled with the Spaniard being stuck behind Daniel Ricciardo for around half the race meant despite an impressive showing, there was still a feeling of disappointment around his side or the garage. This was only exaggerated by the comparable Charles Leclerc claiming second place. The battle with McLaren for P3 in the constructors championships, as well as many individual bragging rights set to be hotly contested right through until December, Carlos Sainz could claim a podium this weekend. At the track where Smooth Operator vocals made their debut, Sainz no doubt has the ability and the car to impress yet again.
Daniel Ricciardo to outdo Lando, at last…
Speaking of McLaren, this could finally be the week where Australian Daniel Ricciardo bests his over-performing teammate. A track where the Aussie has had a mixed bag of results it would be fair to say, nobody is more capable of turning their luck around this weekend. In recent races, despite being way off the pace of Lando, consistent performances show an improved understanding of his orange car, something which is surely set to continued. Don’t discount Daniel to score a podium for a third team this weekend, although qualifying will have to be a strong showing for this to be possible. A respectable repeat performance of 5th position could be the order of the day, from Hungary. The signs from P1 are not encouraging, but let’s hope the Aussue can get the most out of his car as we head through the weekend.
Alpha Tauri to prove Silverstone was just a blip…
In what has otherwise been an outstanding season, Alpha Tauri will not want a repeat of the last outing in England, nor should they expect one. The car is notoriously quite strong around this circuit and there is a strong chance that Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda beat their Alpine and Astone Martin rivals this Sunday. Like the prediction above, a strong qualifying and intelligent strategy are needed for this to happen, but you can bet on the right set of circumstances to serve up an Alpha Tauri double points finish. Predict Gasly to finish above his Japanese counterpart, which Sebastian Vetteland Fernando Alonso, to be wedged between them. If any mechanical issues force any of the aforementioned to retire, expect a resurgent Esteban Ocon to score at least a couple of points.
Qualifying order predictions:
- Hamilton
- Verstappen
- Bottas
- Perez
- Sainz
- Ricciardo
- Leclerc
- Norris
- Gasly
- Alonso
Raceday Finishing order predictions:
- Bottas
- Sainz
- Perez
- Ricciardo
- Norris
- Leclerc
- Gasly
- Alonso
- Vettel
- Tsunoda
WHEEL2WHEEL REPORTS 