Sunday, July 23, 2017

2017 Hungarian Grand Prix preview

OK F1 fans! The wait is almost over. Next weekend it's time for the Hungarian Grand Prix. A track where it's hard to overtake and also a place were surprises are more than welcome. 

We all remember one of the biggest surprises - Jenson Button's first victory back in 2006 with Honda. It was a very exiting GP and in my opinion the excitement started when Räikkönen retired from the lead. Liuzzi (as a backmarker) braked to fast in front of him and Kimi smashed his silver arrow into his back almost flying over him.  

Later Renault had a bad pitstop with Alonso therefor he lost a wheel and needed to retire. Alonso did not retire very often back then because Renault was a very good and reliable car.

Fisichella and Schumacher could have had a good race but they spun of the track ruining it.
Another driver who could have ruined his GP but didn't - Pedro de la Rosa! He was second which was his best result ever. Pedro had replaced Montoya after he had made his last mistake with McLaren by crashing into Räikkönen in the American Grand Prix.

The 2006 Hungarian GP was also Robert Kubica's first race in F1. I knew right away that this guy is going to be a star! Unfortunately he is not driving in F1 anymore because of the rally accident in 2011. Kubica scored his first 2 points in his first GP but was disqualified after his car failed to meet post-race minimum weight requirements. 

But in the end we all remember this face! (picture below)




Now a few words about who might do well in the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Which drivers are usually good in this race? -Kimi Räikkönen and Lewis Hamilton!

2001 - Kimi was 7th with Sauber which was pretty ok with that car.
2002 - Kimi was 4th leaving him just barely outside of the podium.
2003 - Kimi was 2nd after starting from 7th on the grid.
2004 - Kimi retired after having electrical problems with his McLaren
2005 - Kimi takes the checkered flag 35,5 seconds faster than Schumacher and wins!
2006 - Kimi retires from first position overtaking nervous back-markers on a very slippery track.
2007 - Lewis wins in Hungary for the first time! And guess who was 2nd? Kimi!
2008 - Kimi was 3rd when Heikki Kovalainen took his only victory with McLaren.
2009 - Lewis wins again and guess who is 2nd this time? Kimi again!
2010 - Lewis had gearbox issues and Kimi had left F1 in the end of 2009.
2011 - Lewis was fourth when his team mate Jenson Button took another victory in Hungary.
2012 - Lewis wins for the 3rd time in Hungary and after coming back to F1 Kimi is again 2nd 1 second behind.
2013 - Same thing! Lewis won and Kimi 2nd.
2014 - Lewis was 3rd and Kimi was 6th. Both of them had technical problems.
2015 - Lewis was 6th and Kimi retired. Both of them had technical problems again.
2016 - Lewis won the race and Kimi was 6th after a few problems.

This year I am sure that Both of them will be on podium.

Let's move on to the predictions.

Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

The race:

  1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
  2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
  3. Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari

Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Surprise: Romain Grosjean, Haas

Come onboard if you want to be a part of our league!




POINTS: 1st - 3

2nd - 5
3rd - 10

+ possible bonus points


HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. For example if you get winner and and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PREDICTIONS: send an email to f14lifeblog@gmail.com or message the Facebook page to submit your predictions. You have until lights out to make them. If you submit them when the race has started they won't count. So be quick!

THE PRIZE: the winner of the league will win themselves a admin place on the F1 4 LIFE page along side AE, JT, MW, MH, JI & PM. If you don't want to be an admin you are welcome to participate anyway.