Heat is expected to dominate the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, but thunderstorms could disrupt some of the sessions in Budapest.
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Formula 1 drivers are expected to compete in summer temperatures this weekend in Budapest. For the Hungarian Grand Prix, forecasts predict a thermometer fluctuating between 25 and 30 °C throughout the three days.
While conditions are expected to remain generally favorable, rain could still play a role, mainly on Friday and, to a lesser extent, on Sunday.
Possible showers from the first free practice sessions
The first free practice session, scheduled for Friday morning, is the one with the highest risk of being disrupted by bad weather.
A storm system crossing Central Europe is expected to pass east of Budapest, mainly affecting eastern Hungary as well as Moldova, Ukraine, Poland, and Romania.
However, a few scattered showers could reach the Hungaroring before clearing up during the day. Conditions should therefore improve for the second free practice session on Friday afternoon.
Qualifying, on the other hand, should take place under much milder skies. At this stage, forecasts announce no risk of rain for Saturday, offering ideal conditions for teams to optimize their car settings.
A limited threat for the race
A second storm system is expected in Central Europe on Sunday. Having originated in the Atlantic at the beginning of the week, it should gradually move towards Hungary. However, its arrival seems to be a little too late to truly disrupt the Grand Prix.
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At the start of the race, scheduled for 3:00 PM, weather models estimate the risk of rain at around 17%.
The most significant rainfall is expected later in the evening, with a probability that could reach 50% on Sunday night into Monday.
If this trend is confirmed, it is mainly the paddock dismantling operations that could be affected, rather than the race itself.
A changing wind throughout the weekend
Teams will also have to contend with a change in wind direction.
On Friday, it will blow from the north-west, creating a headwind on the straight leading to the first corner. On Saturday, it will shift to the south-west, this time creating a tailwind on the approach to the fourth corner. This orientation should remain the same on Sunday for the Grand Prix.
Currently, everything suggests that heat will be the dominant element of the Hungarian weekend, even if teams will keep a close eye on the sky, especially on Friday morning and late Sunday afternoon.
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