A lap of the Hungaroring as Ferrari go for glory

Coming across the start line with a huge wall of spectators on the left the cars touch 290 kph in 7th gear before they brake and slow to 130 kph by the apex of Turn 1, the long right-hander which dips down out of the drivers’ line of sight as the car approaches. A short blast and the cars arrive in Turn 2, another long corner, this time to the left.

Then the cars drive away from this twisty section, along a flat-out section of gentle curves and after another long 130-kph corner, there is the approach to the very tight chicane at Turns 6 and 7. Slowing dramatically from 230 kph to less than 100 kph, the cars carry as much speed as possible through the turns without running over the very high kerbs. Hitting the saw-edged concrete on the right-hand side of this chicane will unsettle the car, if not break it, but the drivers know that the quickest way around here is right up against the kerbs. Placing a car that close to the edge of the track whilst steering, braking, changing down, sliding and watching your mirrors is no easy task.

At the halfway point of the lap, the cars turn for home taking Turns 8 through 12 in fourth gear or above. This is a very fast section and one in which cars with a good ability to change direction efficiently will excel. Two corners from home and the cars slow to around 90 kph for the tricky left-hander at Turn 13 and then the long Turn 14 that brings the cars back onto the grid once again.