Why did Zhou stop at the start? The 9 answers to the Hungarian GP

1. Why did not Zhou begin at first?

Zhou Guanyu’s accident at first was already going down earlier than the 5 lights of the site visitors gentle had gone out. When the Chinese language had engaged first gear and introduced the engine on top of things, the pace instantly dropped once more. A mistake within the braking system technique, in keeping with the staff cryptically, was accountable for this. When the lights went out, Zhou needed to get again on top of things.

When attempting to make up for the misplaced positions, issues occurred as they needed to: Zhou overdid it, misjudged the turbulent air and crashed into the again of Daniel Ricciardo. He in flip pushed Esteban Ocon, who in flip hit his personal teammate. As a result of the query of guilt was really easy to reply, Zhou obtained a five-second penalty – although it was an accident within the first nook.

By the way, Zhou’s beginning downside additionally ruined teammate Valtteri Bottas’ race. The Finn needed to swerve at first, misplaced momentum and, in consequence, quite a few locations. The Sauber drivers began the race in fifth and seventh place and got here again from the primary lap in twelfth and sixteenth plus the penalty. Extra concerning the Alfa catastrophe: Double start drama at Alfa-Sauber: 0 points after qualifying miracle

2. Why was Crimson Bull so fast within the race?

On Saturday, Max Verstappen complained about his RB19. He would have had the ‘worst attainable stability’. However even after qualifying, the World Champion knew that Saturday’s weak automotive can be his trump card within the race. After beginning second, 0.003 seconds behind, Verstappen handed Lewis Hamilton within the first few meters and did not let something burn. He had a lead of greater than half a minute on the end in second place.

Crimson Bull deliberately poorly tuned the automotive for qualifying. Verstappen had extreme understeer. That is significantly dangerous for a great lap time in Budapest. In racing trim, nonetheless, it was vital to guard the rear tires. That is precisely what you achieved with this stability. As a result of the setup of the automotive – aside from a number of exceptions – can not be modified after qualifying, Crimson Bull took this excessive route as an alternative of searching for a compromise. Extra on Verstappen’s highway to victory: Verstappen celebrates record victory: (almost) perfect race

3. What was incorrect with Lewis Hamilton?

The Hungarian specialist began the race from pole and solely completed fourth. The Mercedes is definitely stronger within the race than in qualifying. A nasty opening lap initially threw Hamilton again to fourth place. The beginning itself wasn’t that dangerous – simply not so good as Max Verstappen’s. In flip one, Verstappen starved his nemesis on the skin – so Oscar Piastri slipped previous. Lando Norris handed Hamilton on the skin of flip two.

Then, after the pit cease, Hamilton misplaced an exorbitant period of time to the McLaren drivers in entrance of him. “However we had the second-fastest automotive,” Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff is for certain. The issue: You approached the stints too conservatively to guard the tires. On the finish of the stints, Mercedes was actually quick – however they’d already misplaced an excessive amount of time beforehand. Extra on Hamilton’s Hungary disappointment: Hamilton and Mercedes quarrel: lost F1 podium at the start?

4. How did Norris get previous Piastri once more?

Firstly, McLaren’s inner order reversed, Piastri handed Norris. However all of a sudden Norris was forward once more. McLaren introduced the Brit to the pit cease one lap forward of Piastri. The more energizing tires a lap earlier gave Norris the benefit, the undercut labored and Norris handed within the pits. However why did McLaren swap positions? Since you needed to react to the Hamilton cease with Norris so as to not acquire the undercut from Mercedes. Piastri later fell additional behind as a result of he had broken the underbody. Extra on the following Norris podium: Norris takes second podium in a row: McLaren now second force?

5. What went incorrect with Leclerc’s pit stops?

On the first pit cease, Charles Leclerc stood a whopping 9.46 seconds. The explanation for this was a faulty affect wrench on the rear left. On the second pit cease, the Ferrari driver dropped the anchor too late. With locking tires, he drove into the pace digicam on the pit entrance. Leclerc nonetheless had 80.7 kilometers per hour on the speedometer – 0.7 an excessive amount of. For this he obtained a five-second penalty, which was added to the race time and threw him into seventh place behind George Russell. Extra on the following Ferrari disappointment: Ferrari loses ground on F1 competition in Hungary: need more pace

6. Why have been each Alpines eradicated so early?

Alpine was the unfortunate one within the begin collision. Pierre Gasly needed to retire within the pits after lap one with a puncture and a broken rear finish. Esteban Ocon drove two extra laps after the accident after which parked the automotive within the storage. His automotive additionally suffered important bodywork harm. Consequently, Ocon was off the monitor a number of occasions in the course of the two laps. Additionally, his seat was damaged. “I am not stunned, as excessive as he flew at first,” says staff supervisor Otmar Szafnauer. Stories of a go to to Ocon’s medical heart turned out to be false in any case. Extra on the Alpine begin crash: Alpine double crash: Seat broken in two, Ocon injured?

7. Why was Alfa-Sauber so sturdy?

After the race consequence and lap one, this query sounds ironic – however in truth, Sauber was glad about the very best qualifying consequence from a staff perspective since 2012. The engineers celebrated their meticulous work in preparation for the particular qualifying with all tire compounds. As well as, after Silverstone, the replace was understood a bit of higher. However the greatest issue was the monitor: the gradual monitor traits suited the C43. The Alfa-Sauber lacks aerodynamic effectivity – which was hardly in demand in Hungary. The staff is anticipating one other tough weekend in Spa.

8. How did Daniel Ricciardo’s comeback go?

Daniel Ricciardo had not been within the racing automotive for 9 months earlier than he drove the tire take a look at for Crimson Bull final week. There was no signal of the Australian’s lack of driving expertise: in qualifying, he promptly beat teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Firstly he was cleared by Zhou and was solely 18th after the primary lap. An excellent technique and robust tire administration introduced him again as much as thirteenth place. Contemplating the chances at AlphaTauri, a really sturdy debut. Extra on the Ricciardo Comeback Race: Ricciardo after comeback baptism of fire: first points without a collision?

9. Why did Sargeant have to surrender?

Three laps earlier than the top of the race, Logan Sargeant parked his Williams within the pits. The American had beforehand spun within the chicane. “I attempted to overhaul Nico Hulkenberg and spun on the curb,” defined Sargeant. As a result of he braked the tires squarely, he drove to the pits. As a result of then there was nothing left to get, he parked the automotive utterly.