With the triple back-to-back Grands-Prix in France, England and Germany, Formula One moved across the continent to Eastern Europe and the Hungarian Grand Prix. Host of the race, the Hungaroring Circuit, is often referred to as the “Monaco without guardrails” for how narrow the course is and tight the corners are, making downforce and grip super important.

It was with this in mind that Panasonic Toyota Racing added a new aerodynamics package to their machines for this weekend. The two drivers started the first practice session with different specification packages, however, resulting in 10th for Ralf Schumacher and 12th for Jarno Trulli.

During the afternoon’s practice session, rain made conditions difficult, seeing many cars skid or spin off the track. However, both Ralf and Trulli managed to complete clear runs to complete their programs in good form to finish the day in 9th and 11th, respectively.

A time of 1’20”919 in the morning’s practice saw Fernando Alonso (McLaren) in top position at the end of the first day.

The second day of competition at the Hungarian Grand Prix consisted of practice and Qualifying.

The morning’s practice session got underway to an ambient temperature of 24 and track temperature of 33 degrees C. During the final practice session, the last chance to make setup changes before qualifying, Panasonic Toyota Driving worked solidly through their settings to see both drivers finish in the top 10 – Jarno Trulli in seventh and Ralf Schumacher in eighth.

The ambient temperature was at 24 degree and the track at 35 degrees for the start of qualifying. In the first period, Ralf Schumacher finished in seventh and Trulli in eighth to pass easily through to the second period. Then, in the second period, both drivers gained even more speed, resulting in Trulli finishing in third and Ralf Schumacher in eighth for a birth in the final period.

Competing in the final period on the same load of fuel as the one he was to start the race on, Ralf Schumacher finished in sixth to clinch his best grid position this season. On the other hand, however, Trulli had troubles with handling on his full load of fuel and finished in ninth.

Grabbing pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix, though, for the second time this season (career total 17) was Fernando Alonso (McLaren). His time: 1’19”674.

Sunday saw a reshuffling of grid places as a result of penalties dished up to provisional pole-position holder McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and eighth-positioned Giancarlo Fisichella of Renault. Deemed to have impeded the time attacks of other drivers, both drivers were dropped five places from their original positions.

The eleventh race of the year finally started just after 2pm local time to a crowd of approximately 100,000 spectators. Ralf Schumacher got off to a solid start, maintaining his fifth position through the first corner; however, Jarno Trulli suffered as a consequence of starting from the dirty side of the track, dropping four positions to 12th.

Ralf continued the race with two year’s consecutive champion, Alsonso, hot on his heels, but showed the calm collection of the veteran he is to hold his position until pitting for the first time in the 18th lap.

Heading into his second stint, however, R. Schumacher was unable to pick up the pace as much as he had expected and once again found Alonso breathing down his neck. Then, as a result of his second pit stop being two laps earlier than Alonso, he found himself doing the chasing after Alonso pitted in the 50th lap.

Despite this setback, Ralf surged on in a strong performance on this difficult course that saw him finish the race in a respectable sixth position to give Panasonic Toyota Racing its first points since the United States Grand Prix, which was the seventh race of the season.


Result:
Eventual victor at the Hungarian Grand Prix was pole position starter, Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), for his third victory of the season.