F1 - Hungaroring Race, 31 Jul 2011

 If this Formula 1 season had an opportunity to change radically in terms of championship, it was today. All the weekend Mclaren was strong, and Hamilton could not take pole position on Hungary Grand Prix because of a little mistake on the last corner in qualifying/Q3. A Lewis Hamilton's win today would really change the driver's championship for good.

I do say that because of many factors that i think were unique for this race:

1) It was the last one before the break, and would preserve the Mclaren and Lewis Hamilton's momentum;

2) Lewis would be second on the championship taking 7 points off Vettel;

3) Two victories in a row would be very positive for Hamilton, after his brilliant drive on last race (Germany), and many problems he had this year.

 In fact, i think the hungaroring GP is not normally exciting. But this year, preceding the F1 break, it wold be very special naturally, and actually with the "wet-dry" situation on the race, it becomes a trully thriller one. I think for all racing fans, for those that watch F1 to see maneuvers as Hamilton did in Germany last week, and with the advantage that Sebastian Vettel has with his Red Bull's car, rain is almost always the "variable" that adds equilibrium and chances for a different result than Vettel at front. Hamilton is the best driver in wet (i think the best driver in any condition, anyway), and starting second with rain, would be an "easy" victory.

 For those who did watch the race do know that was not an "easy" win; and even was not a Lewis Hamilton's win. The conditions that normally are in his favor, were not today. He did a big mistake that  compromised his whole race. More than 5 seconds ahead,  he spun and did loose the position for Button. Until this point, no problem at all, he was close to Button and the wet conditions on some places of the track were the same for all drivers. But another mistake (and that was worst), trying to not loose too much time after the spin, he rejoined the race dangerously, and had a penalty from the stewards. To make sure Hamilton would not win the race even with all that, Mclaren did call him to change for intermediate tyres. All (bad) done.

In the difficult situations of the race, his mistake was not the problem in my view. Button, Alonso (many times), Vettel, Massa... every driver did one or more mistakes, going out of the track and losing positions. But the way he rejoined the race (he did just this mistake), and the inters were the critical problems. 

 Hamilton did 6 pit stops. I was thinking if the better option for Mclaren that did three pits for super soft, would not make more sense to put the soft compound on the third pit. So, "if" was necessary, they could make another pit and use another set of super soft. But (as Button), if that was not necessary, would be five instead of six pits. And without the penalty, Hamilton would end the race as (at least) second. But, there is no "but", and as i said in the begining of this article, Mclaren did loose a great opportunity this weekend.

 Well, Button had won the race, Mclaren should be happy. But in my perspective, as a F1 and big fan of the "real" drivers, was a very disappointing race. Button has his talent as a driver, but i'm not a fan of his "look after the tyres" driving style (Ease on Down the Road). I prefer the "taking-risks-and-reward-the-fans" driving style from Lewis Hamilton. Every race we do see wonderful overtakes from him, and this race was not different. In the begining of the race he did show to Button how to sustain a position, and even starting on the dirty side of the track, could stay on second place at turn one. One mistake from Vettel and he was the leader of the Grand Prix.

 In the end of the day, what counts is the first place, i know. And in the end of the year, is the championship. So, that is the problem with this race, and what makes this race disappointing thinking about the driver, that is not so happy as us, his fans.

 See you @ SPA, the best track of all!