Between pronounced bumps and unpredictable grip, the new asphalt laid on the Hungaroring is drawing a wave of criticism in the paddock. Several drivers even fear a chaotic start at the first corner.
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It’s the hot topic of the weekend in Budapest.
As Formula 1 prepares to race in the Hungarian Grand Prix, the quality of the track is at the heart of all tensions. The reason? Recent resurfacing work which, far from improving the layout, has made the track particularly unstable and unpredictable.
As early as Friday, George Russell didn’t mince his words: « They resurfaced a third of the track and, unfortunately, the work is very poorly done. » An observation shared by the entire grid during the FIA’s nocturnal briefing, prompting organizers to carry out urgent sanding work overnight. Insufficient to reassure the grid’s participants.
A treacherous first corner for the start in Hungary
The main concern is the transition between the old and new asphalt at the first braking point. A massive bump has formed there, threatening to destabilize the single-seaters at the most critical moment of the race.
« We would have been better off leaving the track as it was, it was much better before, » regrets Ollie Bearman. « This huge bump at Turn 1 could make the start particularly eventful. It’s very strange, and the asphalt is already degrading. The grip is bad. »
The same goes for pole position. Lando Norris admits the difficulty of putting together a clean lap in these conditions: « With this new asphalt, it’s very grippy in some places and completely slippery in others. At times, some corners feel like a real lottery. »
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A striking contrast with the 2016 works
At Williams, Carlos Sainz points to an unexpected lack of rigor at this level of competition, while recalling that the circuit had previously achieved a flawless record.
« In 2016, the complete resurfacing was one of the best I’ve seen, offering a huge amount of grip, » recalls the Spanish driver. « What they’ve done this time at Turns 1 and 2 is not at all up to F1 standards. The circuit officials admitted to being caught off guard, but they will have to analyze what was missing compared to 2016. »
Between the untimely wheel lock-ups recorded by Valtteri Bottas and the areas of asphalt crumbling under the effect of repetitive passages — particularly in the last corner — this Hungarian Grand Prix promises to be eventful.
It remains to be seen if this “lottery” track will completely reshuffle the cards for victory.
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