With Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Lando Norris’ home race wrapped up on July 7, F1 packs its bag for a 1500+ km cross-country trip to Hungary. Yet, the 7-time champion finds himself at home, having won the Hungarian GP 8 times. Here, Mercedes and Max Verstappen will engage in a battle to achieve their own hat tricks. While the Silver Arrows aim to take their third consecutive win this season, the reigning champion will fight hard to take his third consecutive victory in Hungary.

The Hungaroring, unofficially called “Monaco without walls” because of the track’s overtaking challenges, could stifle Verstappen, as the actual Monaco track did this year. The other victory contender, McLaren, will aim to get rid of their strategic mishaps from Silverstone that prevented a double podium. However, it was the volatile weather and relentless downpours that changed the course of the British GP. Will the Hungarian GP be kinder to the drivers, teams, and spectators?

Sunny days at the Hungarian GP

As F1 travels to Mogyoród, Hungary, for Round 13 of the 2024 season, the Central European weather contrasts the extreme rain that Silverstone witnessed. With the sun shining in all its glory, accompanied by a light breeze, Hungarians will experience the weather that the spectators in Silverstone prayed for.

Friday, 19th July: Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2

As per Williams F1’s official forecast, the temperature can touch a high of 36 degrees Celsius. There’s a 5% chance of rain and as weather.com predicts, a relaxed 9 mph breeze towards the North will grace the circuit. So, the Intermediate tires will most probably rest under the blankets in the garage.

Saturday, 20th July: Free Practice 3 and Qualifying

On the most important day, the Qualifying day, there won’t be any major shake-up in the weather, with temperatures touching a high of 34 degrees Celsius. Chances of a downpour increase slightly, but nothing that’ll bother the track or the teams. The winds remain under control, just changing direction towards the North-Northeast.

Sunday 21st July: The Hungarian Grand Prix

While the daytime temperatures remain similar, an outside chance of rain appears. If the heavens open, F1’s two wet-weather maestros, Hamilton and Verstappen, will activate the aforementioned battle of hat tricks. If you plan to be in attendance at the circuit, carry your umbrellas, just in case. Even the raindrops don’t fall, a tense battle for victory will definitely go down.

The revamped yet unforgiving Hungaroring

“It’s always very hot in Budapest at this time of year and the track gives you no time to pause for breath as you are always turning the wheel,” Yuki Tsunoda says ahead of the Hungarian GP. With a physically demanding weekend in store for drivers, only the fittest will survive. Similar statements have been made in the past, with 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen calling it a “slow and tortuous” circuit. Lewis Hamilton has also called it “one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.”

The pit straight is also one of the shortest on the calendar, despite the track being lengthened by 900 metes in 2003. Being held in the scorching summer, dust flying around on the track is also a common occurrence, adding to the challenge. After Hungaroring renewed its F1 contract in 2023, CEO of the track, Zsolt Gyulay announced major changes to the track.

“Fittingly, the updates to our famous circuit, which include renovations to our Main Paddock Building, Main Grandstand, and Spectator Zones, are expected to be completed by 2026,” he said. But the twisty nature hasn’t changed, setting the stage for an exciting battle.

A 5-way driver showdown for bragging rights at the Hungarian GP

The 5-way battle of victory at this tricky circuit will be between the two Mercedes drivers, two McLaren drivers, and reigning world champion Max Verstappen. While Sergio Perez will hope to return to the podium to save his 2025 Red Bull seat from Daniel Ricciardo, the chances remain low.

Lando Norris, dejected after the lost chance at British GP, is very confident for the Hungarian GP. Though he reveals there is still work to do, “we are ready” is his declaration to McLaren’s rivals. Teammate Oscar Piastri hasn’t had the best of luck but his performances have been sublime. “The Hungaroring is a track that I had success at in the junior series, so I’m looking forward to returning,” the Aussie said. “The whole team is going into this race with a lot of confidence and motivation.”

As for Mercedes, their trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, is cautious. He expects the Hungaroring to “throw up different demands,” and the W15 hasn’t been as competitive in hot conditions. This could drop them in the pecking order. But Red Bull, too, isn’t expecting any better at the Hungarian GP. Team Advisor Helmut Marko says, “It won’t be that easy”. But with the ‘Max factor’, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Mercedes and Red Bull’s predictions put McLaren in the top spot. Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner expects the same, predicting McLaren, especially Norris, to excel in the hot conditions. Ferrari, earlier dubbed title contenders, could continue their serial disappointment, with Haas now enhanced to take on their factory team. Who will impress with only two races left to impress the world before F1 slumbers in the summer break?