2013 Hungarian GP Build up - Team news, quotes and pics

[Rob]

Hungarian GP – Pat Fry: “A good day”

Pat Fry: “Overall, today was a good day and we managed to get through our entire programme with no problems whatsoever. During the first session and the first part of the afternoon one, we split the programme between the two cars, with the aim of finding the most suitable aerodynamic configuration for this track. The comparisons between the various components and the two compounds made available by Pirelli produced the answers we were looking for and now, with all the data we have from Fernando and Felipe’s cars, we, along with them, can get down to preparing for qualifying and the race”.

Hungarian GP – Fernando Alonso: “Clear ideas”

Fernando Alonso: “As usually happens on Friday, today we managed to get an idea of what sort of pace we should see in Sunday’s race. Conditions look like being reasonably stable over the whole weekend and this will help in analysing the times and strategies of the other teams, in order to understand exactly where we are. The type of tyre has not changed, so we can count on last year’s experience and apart from that, they are the same for everyone. To gain an advantage over our rivals, it helps to understand them as well and as quickly as possible. Here, more than at other tracks, starting from the front is extremely important and for this reason I believe that everyone will try and optimise their cars for qualifying, even if it means sacrificing a bit for the race”.

Hungarian GP – Felipe Massa: “The maximum to be in the game”

Felipe Massa: “All went well today and we tested everything on the programme, with the car seeming reasonably competitive. Even the long runs produced positive results and that is a very important factor for the rest of the weekend. Now we must decide which of the solutions we tried can be used for qualifying and the race. On this track, it’s really important to start as far up the order as possible and we will do all we can to be in the game. On Sunday, it will be difficult for everyone, as overtaking is almost impossible here and on top of that, they are predicting very high temperatures, which is a factor that needs to be given plenty of consideration when it come to getting the maximum out of our car”.

[Rob]

[Rob]

[Rob]

[Rob]

Hungarian GP – Pat Fry: “Sky high temperatures”

Pat Fry: “A difference of over a second between the performance of the two tyres made the choice for the three qualifying sessions relatively simple. The Mediums would not have ensured getting into Q2 and using only the Softs was the most sensible choice, as it also saved the harder compound for the race. Looking at the gap of around five tenths to pole, we can say that, on a high downforce track like this one, we have returned to the situation we had got used to at the start of the season. Tomorrow, we can expect a very hot and demanding race. It will not be easy to make up ground and the tyres will be put under a great strain by the track temperature, which is predicted to be over fifty degrees. Therefore we must be ready to tackle any unforseen situation. Let’s hope that starting from the clean side of the track can give us a chance to make up a few places, on a track which is notorious for its lack of overtaking opportunities”.

Fernando Alonso: “An open strategy”

Fernando Alonso: “This fifth place is good news after a couple of difficult weekends in Silverstone and the Nürburgring and especially after seeing things improve compared to yesterday, when our race pace left us with even more doubts. Today, we were more competitive thanks to a change of set-up and some modifications on the aero side, done more with the aim of getting consistency rather than pure performance. Traction and turn-in have improved and now we must look carefully at the start to try and make up a few places then and, on this front, the extra grip from being on the clean side should help. Here, it is hard to overtake in the race and so it’s even more important to try and make up ground immediately, particularly if we want to prevent Vettel from increasing his lead. The strategy will be very open, the tyres are new for everyone and the high track temperature means we need to think of a strategy that can be modified at any moment. The podium is always our target and I feel we can fight for it, even though we know it won’t be easy with such strong competition ahead of us”.

Felipe Massa: “Maximum concentration”

Felipe Massa: “Today’s qualifying was extremely complicated and the result does not live up to our expectations: both myself and Fernando pushed to the maximum without making mistakes, but we were not able to fight for the front positions and got the maximum we could. We are well aware of the fact that Saturday is still our weak point and for that reason, we must stay focused on a race that will not be easy, because the high temperatures will impact on tyre behaviour, on the car and on us drivers. Overtaking is almost impossible here, unless the car ahead of you makes a mistake, but I hope I have a good enough race pace to make up some places and bring home the important points that we need”.

[wisepie]

Fantastic images Rob, at least our boys looked relatively content yesterday......but it must be so frustrating to have only been able to manage 5th and 7th on the grid when we looked to have the pace for better. It's going to be a long race.

[Jas]

we have returned to the situation we had got used to at the start of the season...quote from pat above...yh, a position which is not good enough, becoming complacent?!!! grrr!

[vcs316]

Hungarian GP: Ferrari qualifying quotes

Fernando Alonso - 5th: "This fifth place is good news after a couple of difficult weekends in Silverstone and the Nürburgring and especially after seeing things improve compared to yesterday, when our race pace left us with even more doubts. Today, we were more competitive thanks to a change of set-up and some modifications on the aero side, done more with the aim of getting consistency rather than pure performance. Traction and turn-in have improved and now we must look carefully at the start to try and make up a few places then and, on this front, the extra grip from being on the clean side should help. Here, it is hard to overtake in the race and so it's even more important to try and make up ground immediately, particularly if we want to prevent Vettel from increasing his lead. The strategy will be very open, the tyres are new for everyone and the high track temperature means we need to think of a strategy that can be modified at any moment. The podium is always our target and I feel we can fight for it, even though we know it won't be easy with such strong competition ahead of us."

Felipe Massa - 7th: "Today's qualifying was extremely complicated and the result does not live up to our expectations: both myself and Fernando pushed to the maximum without making mistakes, but we were not able to fight for the front positions and got the maximum we could. We are well aware of the fact that Saturday is still our weak point and for that reason, we must stay focused on a race that will not be easy, because the high temperatures will impact on tyre behaviour, on the car and on us drivers. Overtaking is almost impossible here, unless the car ahead of you makes a mistake, but I hope I have a good enough race pace to make up some places and bring home the important points that we need."

Pat Fry: "A difference of over a second between the performance of the two tyres made the choice for the three qualifying sessions relatively simple. The Mediums would not have ensured getting into Q2 and using only the Softs was the most sensible choice, as it also saved the harder compound for the race. Looking at the gap of around five tenths to pole, we can say that, on a high downforce track like this one, we have returned to the situation we had got used to at the start of the season. Tomorrow, we can expect a very hot and demanding race. It will not be easy to make up ground and the tyres will be put under a great strain by the track temperature, which is predicted to be over fifty degrees. Therefore we must be ready to tackle any unforseen situation. Let's hope that starting from the clean side of the track can give us a chance to make up a few places, on a track which is notorious for its lack of overtaking opportunities."

[Italian Spirit]

Mark Webber interviewed by RAI2 just before the Hungarian GP.
"What do you think of Newey?"
"Fabulous engineer"
"Matenschitz?"
"Great boss, stubborn, but he can listen"
"Markko?"
"Next question, please"

[FA fan]

Fernando Alonso has been placed under investigation for the alleged illegal use of his DRS device during the Hungarian GP.

According to the charge, Alonso activated the DRS system on his Ferrari on three separate occasions in Sunday's race when he was more than one second behind the car in front.

Under the current rules, a pursuing car is only permitted to employ DRS when it is within one second of the car ahead when they cross into the DRS detection zone.

On a disappointing afternoon for the Spaniard and his Ferrari team, Alonso fell further behind World Championship leader Sebastian Vettel on Sunday as he trailed the German over the line in a distant fifth place.


However, Alonso's afternoon may yet take a further turn for the worse after the FIA Technical Delegate Joe Bauer announced that he had been summoned to the stewards.

The statement declared: 'After the race, DRS Activation data from car number three were analysed and it was found that the driver had activated the adjustable bodywork in three occasions when he was more than one second behind another car. As this is not in conformity with article 27.5 (b) of the 2013 Sporting Regulations, I am referring this matter to the stewards'.

More to follow...

[wisepie]

Just to add insult to injury.....this is a joke, right. I despair of this sport forthwith. Need a drink to drown my sorrows and celebrate a sinking ship.

[PURE PASSION]

ernando Alonso avoided a post-race penalty after it emerged his DRS was activated illegally during the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Following the conclusion of the race - in which Alonso finished fifth - a technical report from the FIA stated that Alonso's DRS had been activated on three occasions when he was more than one second behind the car in front. It emerged that Ferrari had failed to switch the DRS from its pre-race to race setting, resulting in Alonso being incorrectly informed that DRS was enabled.

As soon as Ferrari realised the issue, Alonso was informed to only activate DRS when instructed to by the team. The gain on the three occasions amounted to less than a one second sporting advantage, with Ferrari arguing that its subsequent solution actually put it at a disadvantage.

The stewards decided against penalising Alonso, with Ferrari fined €15,000 as it is the competitors responsibility to ensure the system is working correctly.

[Rob]

Pat Fry: “We need a significant step”

Pat Fry: “The result of this race is in line with our current potential: we knew this cycle of races would be difficult and that the fight for the podium at this track would be out of our reach. Car performance on both compounds did not give us any margin to attack, not even with a more aggressive strategy. For this reason, we preferred to defend our positions from attacks from those behind and from those caused by traffic, opting for a more conservative strategy. Both drivers did their utmost, especially Felipe, who from first lap onwards had to drive with a damaged front wing. Even if we have managed to limit the damage, now we need to make significant progress if we want to fight for the title. The next two races after the summer break take place on circuits that are very different to the Hungaroring and so we will work on various fronts in the hope of seeing our efforts rewarded as soon as possible”.

Fernando Alonso: “Damage limitation”

Fernando Alonso: “Finishing fifth today, maybe we actually did better than what should have been within our grasp, because Mercedes, Lotus and Red Bull were quicker than us, a fact we had already seen from Friday’s practice. This race ends what’s been a generally difficult month for us and, with Silverstone and Nürburgring, is part of a cycle where we were not up to par. However, looking at the points we have obtained, we haven’t lost out too much and today, Hamilton and Raikkonen helped us to keep the gap from growing too big to Vettel in the lead. Now, our aim is to work hard to arrive at Spa and Monza with a more competitive car. There are still nine races to go and the points available are more than enough. The team can do it and the potential is there, so I don’t see any reason why we can’t fight right to the end of the championship, as we have always done”.

Felipe Massa: “Tough from the start”

Felipe Massa: “Today’s race was difficult from start to finish, because right from the first lap, at turn 5, after making contact with Rosberg, I lost the left part of the front wing. At that time, stopping to change the nose would have lost valuable time, so we decided not to come in, but from then on, the balance of the car was never the same and I lost a lot in terms of performance, suffering a lot with understeer and oversteer and my tyres degraded more than they should have done. I definitely can’t be happy with eighth place, because both in the race and in qualifying, we lacked the pace to fight for the lead. For various reasons, this track doesn’t suit our car, but it’s precisely because things can change from track to track that we must absolutely stay focused now. From now on we will concentrate on the development and on the preparation of the second part of the championship, when I hope we can be more competitive”.

Stefano Domenicali: “A prompt reaction”

Stefano Domenicali: “Going into this race weekend, we knew we would be struggling a bit. Today’s result cannot put a smile on our faces because at no point in the race were we competitive. After a promising start to the season, we are experiencing a drop in competitiveness. Now we need to stay calm and not give up, which is what we are used to doing, especially in the most difficult times. We must use the next few weeks to gather some ideas and act promptly. I expect the whole team to react strongly with the intention of improving the car to allow our drivers to express all their potential”.