Poll: Official 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix Race Thread - Hungaroring, Budapest - Race 13/24

[Scam]

Having slept on it, they made it difficult but actually McLaren made the right choice as a team no? If they hadn’t pitted Norris first then maybe they would have ended up with a 1+3 finish. Might also make the difference when it comes to the WCC which is a more realistic proposition than the WDC.

I just think they should have had their cake and eaten it, told Oscar if he can’t catch Norris then they can’t do anything about it? Meh. Tricky situation to be fair.

 

[Stumble Bum]

Having slept on it, they made it difficult but actually McLaren made the right choice as a team no? If they hadn’t pitted Norris first then maybe they would have ended up with a 1+3 finish.

Not really, they had plenty of time to pit Oscar instead of Lando and then pit Lando a lap later. This is a situation of their own making.

At the very least they could offer Oscar to pit now or tell him Lando will be coming in first. I don't believe they did so?

OR they could have told Lando BEFORE pitting him that we're pitting you 1 lap before Oscar but to give any undercut place straight back and then race from there. They also failed to do this.

 

[Greboth]

I think it was short sighted by McLaren.

They appear to have a car fast enough for both of their drivers to rival and beat Max.

Max is 76 points ahead of Norris now....could have been 69.

There are 11 races left and in a perfect scenario of Mclaren 1,2s with Norris winning and max coming 3rd everytime that is 110 points.

Obviously the above is unlikely, but it could swing either way and it shows it is still fairly possible Norris could win. McLaren could get even luckier if Max has a few DNFs.

If Lando ends up losing the championship by 7 points, McLaren are going to feel very, very sick and Lando would probably be furious.

The problem is that arguement works both ways. If Lando hadn’t have given the place back then actually gets in the title fight, Piastri could refuse to swap at a future race, or other team orders, costing Norris the points to win.

The reality is Norris is currently only really within a mathematical chance of winning the WDC unless they do get lucky with a couple Verstappen DNF’s. But the WCC is within reach as long as Perez keeps Perezing. Norris agreeing to pit first and give the place back is going to cause less disharmony in the team than Norris selfishly taking the win.

As above, if Norris was smart and thinking of the WDC he would have let Piastri passed immediately and overtaken him. He’d get the full points and further his cause that he’s the driver for McLaren to back this season rather than sounding petulant.

 

[Jono8]

As above, if Norris was smart and thinking of the WDC he would have let Piastri passed immediately and overtaken him. He’d get the full points and further his cause that he’s the driver for McLaren to back this season rather than sounding petulant.

I don't think he was going to be allowed to do that though. I read that they weren't allowed to fight/race after lap 44 or something.

 

[Scam]

Not really, they had plenty of time to pit Oscar instead of Lando and then pit Lando a lap later. This is a situation of their own making.

I can’t remember where Hamilton was etc but is there not a chance that if Lando didn’t put then Hamilton literally could have been called in that lap? I dunno.

OR they could have told Lando BEFORE pitting him that we're pitting you 1 lap before Oscar but to give any undercut place straight back and then race from there. They also failed to do this.

That’s basically what they did no? And Lando didn’t do it?

I don't think he was going to be allowed to do that though. I read that they weren't allowed to fight/race after lap 44 or something.

Interesting. I’d imagine the teams can figure out this stuff better than we can regarding pit stop windows etc.

 

[Mr Jack]

I don't think he was going to be allowed to do that though. I read that they weren't allowed to fight/race after lap 44 or something.

There was a message to Lando emphasising mid-40s related to attacking Piastri, so that would make some sense. McLaren seemed keen to encourage their drivers to preserve their tyres.

 

[Jono8]

I can’t remember where Hamilton was etc but is there not a chance that if Lando didn’t put then Hamilton literally could have been called in that lap? I dunno.

They pitted Norris on lap 45 and Piastri on 47.

I think Lewis was about 10 seconds behind Norris.

I think their strategy team just flubbed it again to be honest. Should have just pit Piastri on 45 and Norris on 46. No way Lewis was going to catch Norris that much in one lap.

 

[Kenai]

I can’t remember where Hamilton was etc but is there not a chance that if Lando didn’t put then Hamilton literally could have been called in that lap? I dunno.

Hamilton had pitted a few laps earlier than Lando and taken nearly 5 seconds out of him following that, so they were panicking that they were going to lose the gap

 

[cuke2u]

Hamilton had pitted a few laps earlier than Lando and taken nearly 5 seconds out of him following that, so they were panicking that they were going to lose the gap

Yep they were protecting Lando from the Mercedes making an undercut. They were playing it fair and honest.

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

Yeah I think if they replace Perez now the new driver isn’t going to do much better across the remainder of the season. New team, new car etc.

But they MIGHT do better, AND will be in a much better position come the new season with some time to bed into the team/procedures/car/people

 

[SoliD]

Best bit about the RBR is them saying GP's comments about being childish are about other teams... Do you reckon they believe themselves they've been lying for so long. Good GP for Hungary in the dry, Looks like we're going to be having numerous winners over the second half of the season, hopefully McLaren can sort out their strategies enough and get a few 1-2's to put the pressure on RBR and see how Max reacts then.

 

[lordrobs]

The most impressive thing about the McLarren situation... Piastri keeping cool, at least on the radio that was broadcast.

Lando's childish "come catch me and I'll let you past" didn't warrant a response. All Oscar had to do was maintain a safe gap to Lewis, if Lando wants to go and cook his tyres, have at it. The team gave the order, why sit in his dirty air and further degrade your own tyres?

Max and Lando both needed a bit of a time out after that race. Perhaps they can go and play some racing games together and Jos can bring them some pop.

 

[Mr Jack]

Yep they were protecting Lando from the Mercedes making an undercut. They were playing it fair and honest.

Hamilton was over 10s down the road. I don't think there was a realistic chance of an undercut, so heading off that unlikely possibility was not worth the entirely predictable resulting interteam strife.

 

[jaybee]

If Lando sorts himself out, he could still challenge Max for the driver's title. We've seen what Max is like when under pressure and not in the quickest car, or even when cars around him compete. If Mclaren keep sticking it ahead of him in quali, Max could get flustered and keep throwing points away with his silly moves. Throw in a couple of DNFs for Max...

The gap is currently 76 points.

Race left = 11
Possible points left if all first place plus fastest laps = 286
If Lando gets 11 first places = 275
If Max gets 11 second places = 198

That's a gap of 77 points closed.
Lando could win by a mere couple of points.

This is not accounting for fastest laps and all, but realistically if Max is battling among the top end which is more competitive now, being able to pit for a free fastest lap is not generally going to be a common thing.

Lando can do this if he keeps finishing ahead of Max, ideally winning the majority of races left. This is completely doable given their car now looks to be the best overall package, especially given they brought no upgrades to Hungary where as the others did.

Not easy no. Different tracks will see the Redbull be stronger than of late. I'm just highlighting that this is still on and we should celebrate that we are where we are, given that most had written off the majority of 2024, predicting that teams would be more likely to be able to compete in 2025. The fact we are seeing competitive top 6 spots already half way through the season is fantastic. I think a lot of it was to do with something the teams were overlooking and perhaps even over analysing in terms of aero... the front wing. All teams now see the importance of the front wing in this era and have flexy outer extremes now. Redbull had it from race 1. The other teams only recently caught on to the importance of it.

 

[Jono8]

If Lando sorts himself out, he could still challenge Max for the driver's title. We've seen what Max is like when under pressure and not in the quickest car, or even when cars around him compete. If Mclaren keep sticking it ahead of him in quali, Max could get flustered and keep throwing points away with his silly moves. Throw in a couple of DNFs for Max...

The gap is currently 76 points.

Race left = 11
Possible points left if all first place plus fastest laps = 286
If Lando gets 11 first places = 275
If Max gets 11 second places = 198

That's a gap of 77 points closed.
Lando could win by a mere couple of points.

This is not accounting for fastest laps and all, but realistically if Max is battling among the top end which is more competitive now, being able to pit for a free fastest lap is not generally going to be a common thing.

Lando can do this if he keeps finishing ahead of Max, ideally winning the majority of races left. This is completely doable given their car now looks to be the best overall package, especially given they brought no upgrades to Hungary where as the others did.

Not easy no. Different tracks will see the Redbull be stronger than of late. I'm just highlighting that this is still on and we should celebrate that we are where we are, given that most had written off the majority of 2024, predicting that teams would be more likely to be able to compete in 2025. The fact we are seeing competitive top 6 spots already half way through the season is fantastic. I think a lot of it was to do with something the teams were overlooking and perhaps even over analysing in terms of aero... the front wing. All teams now see the importance of the front wing in this era and have flexy outer extremes now. Redbull had it from race 1. The other teams only recently caught on to the importance of it.

Yeh, said similar earlier in the thread.

McLaren could SERIOUSLY regret what they did yesterday if Lando loses to Max by 7 points or less.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Hamilton was over 10s down the road. I don't think there was a realistic chance of an undercut, so heading off that unlikely possibility was not worth the entirely predictable resulting interteam strife.

McLaren need a new strategy team as of late. A masterclass of annoying both drivers when they both finish 1-2. First win tarnished, important points lost.

Yeh, said similar earlier in the thread.

McLaren could SERIOUSLY regret what they did yesterday if Lando loses to Max by 7 points or less.

An incredibly amateur move and I did laugh at their ‘you’ll need us at some point’. You mean like right now? I wouldn’t count on it.

Lando needs to work on his starts though, he keeps losing out.

 

[Kenai]

Hamilton was over 10s down the road.

By the time Norris exited the pits and Hamilton passed through the same timing gates, he was about 4.5s behind. He was taking nearly 1.5s per lap out of Norris following his pit stop.

They had more time than they evidently panicked themselves into thinking they had but if they'd done Piastri on 45 and Norris on 46, Hamilton is then potentially only 2.5s - 3s behind the trailing driver, which isn't much cushion for something going wrong during a stop.

 

[Mr Jack]

Race left = 11
Possible points left if all first place plus fastest laps = 286
If Lando gets 11 first places = 275
If Max gets 11 second places = 198

Lando has one win in his F1 career. The idea he's suddenly going to win every remaining race is for the birds.

A realistic goal is end the season with a narrower margin than they have now. Even that is going to take some doing. The WCC, on the other hand, thanks to Pérez is very much on. McLaren are right to focus on that instead of a WDC that requires fanciful results that don't reflect anything that has happened recently.

 

[jaybee]

Lando has one win in his F1 career. The idea he's suddenly go to win every remaining race is for the birds.

A realistic goal is end the season with a narrower margin than they have now. Even that is going to take some doing. The WCC, on the other hand, thanks to Pérez is very much on. McLaren are right to focus on that instead of a WDC that requires fanciful results that don't reflect anything that has happened recently.

Completely agree. Lando is weak. Just trying to give a ray of hope that he does turn a corner. I mean I don't even like the guy, but would rather see Max challenged by anyone else.


This Mohammed Ben Sulayem dude... hanging around the paddock and generally trying to get on TV all the time? What's up with that? Seems he's the FIA president and being investigated for race fixing? Seems creepy.

 

[cuke2u]

By the time Norris exited the pits and Hamilton passed through the same timing gates, he was about 4.5s behind. He was taking nearly 1.5s per lap out of Norris following his pit stop.

They had more time than they evidently panicked themselves into thinking they had but if they'd done Piastri on 45 and Norris on 46, Hamilton is then potentially only 2.5s - 3s behind the trailing driver, which isn't much cushion for something going wrong during a stop.

@Mr Jack what he said. Anyone with hindsight can have an opinion, but it is only hindsight that gives this advantage....