feature-image

Reuters

feature-image

Reuters

The Hungarian GP marks the 13th round of the 2022 F1 championship and the race can very well prove to be unlucky for some. It is a weekend full of uncertainties as the weather is highly dynamic and changes by the hour. A dry qualifying session has set up a thrilling prospect for the race day as each constructor has their eyes fixed on the weather radar ahead of lights out.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

Watch What’s Trending Now!

ADVERTISEMENT

Throughout the weekend, the rain clouds have been constant over the Hungaroring. Friday featured dry running for the drivers throughout the two practices. However, come Saturday, the heavens opened up in Budapest and gave the teams their first and only data on wet conditions at this circuit.

Come race day, the forecast suggests a 60% chance of rain before the start of the Grand Prix and a 40% chance of rain during the initial stages of the race. It points toward a prospect of a dry race, with the temperatures ranging around 80.6F. An overcast condition will be the feature of the race day and the challenge in front of the F1 teams.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Furthermore, another essential factor is the wind speed, which can have a major impact on the car at high-speed turns. The wind can be a big obstacle to overcome as it is breezy at 15mph, and with gusts of up to 40mph, blowing in a north-westerly direction.

READ MORE: George Russell Provides a Glimpse Into the Future of F1 Including Charles Leclerc & Max Verstappen With Compelling Theory

ADVERTISEMENT

Who do you think will prevail in the uncertain Hungarian GP conditions and walk away with the maximum points?

How weather can affect the race result of the Hungarian GP?

The weather has a major impact on an F1 car’s performance. It is a day and night difference between how a car operates under dry and wet conditions. It majorly affects the drivers and the teams who have to reassess their whole race strategy as per the prevailing conditions.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 8-time constructor winners initially suffering this weekend was a prime example of the weather being the reason behind a team’s success or downfall. The teams started off the weekend in dry conditions on Friday and Mercedes faced a massive performance gap to Red Bull and Ferrari. But on Saturday, the racing gods blessed them with rain.

ADVERTISEMENT

The wet conditions particularly did not help them as it hindered them from getting temperature into their tires. However, the rain significantly lowered the track temperature, which put the Germans back in the mix in the qualifying. The Brit duo, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, suddenly found the key to success around the Hungaroring.

ADVERTISEMENT

The W13 performed exceptionally well in cooler temperatures and the team worked out to get the tire temperature to the optimal levels. All the hard work translated into Russell grabbing his maiden career pole position and the first for Mercedes in 2022.

Watch This Story: How Fast Can F1 Cars Go? Comparisons With MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR and Formula E

The temperatures can shift your weekend in either direction. One day, the heat can be the enemy of the 18-inch tires, and another, it can be the enemy of the grip around an F1 circuit. With such unknown factors, it all comes down to the skills of a driver, which helps it stand out that day more than the rest of the pack.

ADVERTISEMENT

Which race do you enjoy the most, a dry race or a wet race?

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Anish Arora

193 Articles

Anish Arora is an F1 Author at EssentiallySports. It is the competitive nature of the sport that not only made him an adherent follower of F1, but also inspired him to start his journey as an author for the most prestigious racing series in the world. Anish initially started writing for Formula 1 during his undergrad and now is a huge fan of the 'Silver Arrows'. His favorite driver on the grid is Daniel Ricciardo, who according to Anish, just needs the right car to return to his dive-bombing and race-winning ways. When he is not rooting for the Honey Badger, he can be seen making healthy homemade delicacies or playing soccer with his friends.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Ranvijay Singh

ADVERTISEMENT