2010 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix Timetable

The Hungaroring is a hard and twisty race track at which the drivers have to manage 14 slow speed curves over just one 4.3km lap. Combined with some of the shortest straights on the calendar, a maximum downforce package and a well balanced car are essential to achieve a competitive lap time.

THURSDAY
14:00 15:00	FORMULA ONE	TRACK FAMILIARISATION – SAFETY CAR
15:00	FORMULA ONE	PRESS CONFERENCE – PRESS ROOM
16:00	FORMULA ONE	TEAM MANAGERS’ MEETING
17:00	GP2	DRIVERS MEETING
17:30	GP3	DRIVERS’ MEETING
FRIDAY
08:50 09:15¹	FORMULA BMW	PRACTICE SESSION
09:20	FORMULA ONE	MEDICAL INSPECTION
09:30 09:45	FORMULA ONE	TRACK INSPECTION - MSTT
10:00 11:30¹	FORMULA ONE	FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
11:55 12:25¹	GP2	PRACTICE SESSION
12:40	PORSCHE MOBIL 1	DRIVERS MEETING
12:50 13:15¹	FORMULA BMW	QUALIFYING SESSION
13:15 13:45	FORMULA ONE	PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
13:20	FORMULA ONE	MEDICAL INSPECTION
13:30 13:40	FORMULA ONE	TRACK INSPECTION
14:00 15:30	FORMULA ONE	SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
15:55 16:25	GP2	QUALIFYING SESSION
16:00 17:00²	FORMULA ONE	PRESS CONFERENCE – PRESS ROOM
16:50 17:20¹	GP3	PRACTICE SESSION
17:00	FORMULA ONE	DRIVERS MEETING
17.45 18:30¹	PORSCHE MOBIL 1	PRACTICE SESSION
SATURDAY
08:00 08:30	FORMULA ONE	TEAM PIT STOP PRACTICE
08:00 08:30	FORMULA ONE	PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
08:45 09:15¹	GP3	QUALIFYING SESSION
09:45* 10:15²	FORMULA BMW	FIRST RACE (13 LAPS OR 25 MINS)
10:30 10:45	FORMULA ONE	TRACK INSPECTION - MSTT
11:00 12:00¹	FORMULA ONE	THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
12:25 12:55	PORSCHE MOBIL 1	QUALIFYING SESSION
13:00 13:45	FORMULA ONE	PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
13:20	FORMULA ONE	MEDICAL INSPECTION
13:30 13:40	FORMULA ONE	TRACK INSPECTION
14:00 15:00	FORMULA ONE	QUALIFYING SESSION
15:25	GP2	PIT LANE OPEN
15:30	GP2	PIT LANE CLOSED
15:40* 16:45²	GP2	FIRST RACE (39 LAPS OR 60 MINS)
17:10	GP3	PIT LANE OPEN
17:15	GP3	PIT LANE CLOSED
17:20* 17:55²	GP3	FIRST RACE (16 LAPS OR 30 MINS)
SUNDAY
08:00 08:10	FORMULA ONE	MARSHALLING SYSTEM TRACK TEST
08:15	FORMULA ONE	MEDICAL INSPECTION
08:30* 09:00²	FORMULA BMW	SECOND RACE (13 LAPS OR 25 MINS)
09:15	GP3	PIT LANE OPEN
09:20	GP3	PIT LANE CLOSED
09:25* 10:00²	GP3	SECOND RACE (16 LAPS OR 30 MINS)
10:20	GP2	PIT LANE OPEN
10:25	GP2	PIT LANE CLOSED
10:35* 11:25²	GP2	SECOND RACE (28 LAPS OR 45 MINS)
11:00	FORMULA ONE	DRIVERS’ MEETING (IF NECESSARY)
11:45* 12:20²	PORSCHE MOBIL 1	RACE (14 LAPS OR 30 MINS)
12:25 13:15	FORMULA ONE	PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
12:30	FORMULA ONE	DRIVERS TRACK PARADE
12:45 13:15²	FORMULA ONE	STARTING GRID PRESENTATION
13:00	FORMULA ONE	MEDICAL INSPECTION
13:10 13:20	FORMULA ONE	TRACK INSPECTION
13:30	FORMULA ONE	PIT LANE OPEN
13:45	FORMULA ONE	PIT LANE CLOSED GRID FORMATION
13:46	FORMULA ONE	NATIONAL ANTHEM
14:00* 16:00²	FORMULA ONE	GRAND PRIX (70 LAPS OR 120 MINS)
* These times refer to the start of the formation lap
¹ Fixed Time Session ² Approximate Finishing time
2010 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX TIMETABLE
Source:scribd.com

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HRT have got problems - Bernie Ecclestone

Formula 1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone has assure to do everything he can to guarantee HRT makes it to the end of the season but has worry it might have to pull out. Hispania Racing Team was born from the ashes of the economically struggling Campos Meta team, presently four weeks before the start of the season. After presence the first five races it had showed to find its feet in Formula One - albeit six seconds off the pace - but Ecclestone says he still has worries.

"HRT have got problems," he told the Daily Telegraph. "I will sort it out. I'd like to see 12 teams finish the season because they have made the commitment to come in. We might lose one of them. But I'm doing my bit to make sure it doesn't happen."

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Monaco Grand Prix Memorable Moments

Monte Carlo Grand Prix - Circuit De Monaco “Memorable Moments”

1950 : As Juan Manual Fangio advanced a blind corner on lap two he noticed the crowd were not looking at him in the lead, but at something on the circuit ahead. He slowed right down and avoided a massive pileup that claimed many of the drivers behind him who were not so observant. The crash was started by a wave from the harbour that splashed onto the circuit.

1950 Winner
Juan Manuel Fangio
Team - Alfa Romeo
Laps - 100
Time:3:13:167

1965 : Graham Hill had an incident with a backmarker on lap 25 and lost the lead. He fought back through the order to claim a dominant victory, earning the nickname Mr Monaco along the way.

1965 Winner
Graham Hill
Team - BRM
Laps - 100
Time:2:37:396

1970 : Jack Brabham threw away victory in the most spectacular fashion by crashing into the wall on the very last corner of the race. Brabham had managed to avoid the barriers for almost two hours but made an awful mistake right before the finish line, handing Jochen Rindt the win.

1970 Winner
Jochen Rindt
Team - Lotus-Ford
Laps - 80
Time:1:54:366


1982 : The lead changed six times in the final four laps in one of the most exciting Grands Prix in F1 history. A late shower caught out most of the drivers in the dying stages, and Ricardo Patrese took victory despite having to bump start his car after a spin on the second last lap.

1982 Winner
Riccardo Patrese
Team - Brabham-Ford
Laps - 76
Time:1:54:112

1984 : Ayrton Senna stormed through the field in a Toleman during a wet race in his first season of F1. Senna was robbed of victory when the race was controversially stopped as he passed Alain Prost for the lead.

1984 Winner
Alain Prost
Team - McLaren-TAG
Laps - 31
Time:1:01:077


1992 : Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell staged an epic battle for the lead in the final laps of the race. Mansell was behind Senna and had a much faster car, but could not get past despite trying every trick in the book. Fans the world over held their breath as Senna won by just two tenths of a second.

1992 Winner
Ayrton Senna
Team - McLaren-Honda
Laps - 78
Time:1:50:593

1996 : Only three cars finished the Grand Prix making it the smallest field to complete a race in Formula One history. Olivier Panis took the win in rainy conditions.

1996 Winner
Olivier Panis
Team - Ligier-Mugen-Honda
Laps - 75
Time - 2:00:456

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2010 MONACO GP PREVIEW - MERCEDES GP PETRONAS

The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the Formula One calendar and the sixth round of the 2010 World Championship takes place around the famous street circuit on Sunday 16 May. Mercedes-Benz engines have powered seven of the last 12 winning cars around the Monte Carlo streets, including the victors of the last three races.



NICO ROSBERG

"The Monaco Grand Prix is my home race and it’s always an enjoyable weekend. Formula One brings a real atmosphere to my home town and it’s very special to have all of my family and friends there to support me over the weekend. Living so close to the track is helpful too! After a rewarding first four races, Barcelona was disappointing, so we will hope to see an improvement for Monaco and we will work hard to understand our issues from last weekend. Monaco is a completely different circuit with its own unique challenges and characteristics so it will be interesting to see how the car goes there. I had a good race last year, qualifying and finishing in sixth place, so it would be nice to go a few places better this time."



MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

"I have always liked to drive in Monaco and that’s why I am really looking forward to competing there this weekend. The Monaco Grand Prix certainly adds something very special to the Formula One calendar and driving through the streets of Monte Carlo is undoubtedly unique. We go there and hope that the characteristics of the street circuit suit our car better than in Spain last weekend. On the other hand, we should be careful to expect too much this time as we have seen in Barcelona that there is still a lot of work ahead of us. So, other than having achieved my best result so far this season, I have taken with me a lot of motivation to work even harder with our engineers to improve the car further."



ROSS BRAWN

"The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most challenging race weekends of the year but everyone revels in the special atmosphere and as engineers, we love the unique demands and the extra pressure that the street circuit generates. In addition to a car which is strong mechanically, you need good power and drivability, provided by our Mercedes-Benz engine, for the low-speed corners. Monaco requires a particular set-up and therefore whilst we will run our new aero package but we will revert to our previous specification suspension system to allow for the steering lock required around this unique circuit. The drivers play their role at Monaco perhaps more so than at any other track. Precision, consistency, speed and control are essential and with Michael and Nico, we are fortunate to have two drivers who excel here. Together with Mercedes-Benz, we achieved the dream result of a one-two finish last year, and whilst we are not at the pace of the frontrunners at the moment, at Monaco you just never know what can happen."



NORBERT HAUG

"The Grand Prix of Monaco is the most spectacular, most popular and most glamorous event on the race calendar. If teams and drivers could choose one race that they desperately want to win, then their choice would be Monaco. Mercedes-Benz has mostly found the unique street circuit in the Principality to be a place for great results. Starting with our first victory in 1998, we have won seven of the last 12 Grands Prix together with our partners, the last three being a hat-trick in 2007, 2008 and 2009. With our new team, MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, we currently do not belong in the absolute favourites for race victories. However the Monaco Grand Prix is known for its own rules and we will work fully concentrated on achieving a good result. With Michael and Nico, we have two drivers who both like this circuit and in my view, both belong among the fastest drivers on this special and demanding circuit."

Source:mercedes-gp.com

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Niki Lauda: Schumacher will be back on form by Malaysian GP

Q: Niki, with everyone running low fuel this season qualifying should really show who is quickest. Were you surprised that it was Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull who were the pacemakers in Bahrain?

Niki Lauda: No, because to be surprised I would have had to have known who was the fastest. Everybody who thought they would be able to make a prediction after testing is an idiot. Nobody tested under similar conditions, so whoever made a statement before Saturday afternoon was at best a phony.

Q: Would you have guessed that McLaren and Mercedes would be off the pace on Saturday?

NL: It’s the same answer as before - how should I know? But what we have seen - Vettel on pole position and the Ferraris snapping at his heels, followed by Lewis (Hamilton) and Nico (Rosberg) - is something that we will very likely see a lot this year.

Q: How would you rate Michael Schumacher’s return?

NL: It was a perfect performance. You can hardly start any better. He ran very little over the winter, due to test restrictions, and got into a modified car he had never driven before, so it was simply impossible for him to clock a qualification lap at the push of a button. I’d suppose he needs about three races to get back up to the same level he was at. When you take all that into account, he did a superb qualification lap, even compared to Nico who was only three-tenths faster. My guess is that in Kuala Lumpur he will have regained that ability to switch on for a fast lap that every permanent driver has to have.

Q: What are your thoughts on the outcome of the Bahrain race?

NL: Ferrari delivered a perfect race. Their win was well deserved and they finished the race. You know that saying, ‘to finish first you first have to finish’. Lewis, Vettel and both Mercedes were very close, so it definitely looks like we are going to see a very tight championship. The question now will be about who can develop at the fastest rate.

Q: Jenson Button was a bit off the pace compared to his team mate Hamilton. Were you surprised?

NL: No, that was what I expected. Lewis knows the team, so it is not surprising that he can control Jenson.

Q: What is your advice for Sebastian Vettel? He wasn’t happy with fourth…

NL: He should keep at the level he was at in Bahrain. He is the fastest car/driver combination at the moment, and even if he didn’t win he can head to Australia quite satisfied. Up until his car troubles he had dominated the race very clearly. Nobody behind him had the slightest chance of catching up.

Q: Fernando Alonso was always one of the favourites for the title, but his odds must be even better now after he won in Bahrain…

NL: He won the race because Sebastian had problems with his car. So let’s wait until Australia to see if he was just sailing due to somebody else’s bad luck, or if he can do it by himself.

Q: Was a pecking order established in Bahrain?

NL: Yes, for the moment it is Red Bull as the leader of the pack, followed by Ferrari, then McLaren and Mercedes are almost even.

Q: What did you think about the performances of the new teams?

NL: The only benefit of the new teams is that the grid looks more impressive on TV and you have the benefit of beating more cars when you win. I am not the right person to ask as I hardly look at them - I am only interested in the top teams. The gap suggests that somebody should pull them up and get them to develop faster.

Source:formula1.com

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Exclusive Interview with McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh

With their car launch set for Friday and its on-track debut a week away, McLaren’s Woking factory will no doubt be a hive of activity as the British team complete last-minute preparations. Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh, however, has found time to answer some pressing questions about their 2010 campaign. Will they miss the input from BMW Sauber-bound tester Pedro de la Rosa? Will fellow world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button get along? Is the MP4-25 a winning car? Whitmarsh reveals all…

Q: How is progress going with the 2010 car? What are your plans for testing?

Martin Whitmarsh: Clearly, the absence of testing in January has eased the car-build schedule to a certain degree, but we’re still working as hard as ever at the McLaren Technology Centre. We’ll be launching the car at Vodafone’s UK headquarters in Newbury on January 29, and we’ll be running one MP4-25 at the first test at Valencia on February 1. Obviously, Pedro (de la Rosa)’s decision to sign with Sauber will have a slight impact on our test programme, but we’ll overcome it. We’re very happy that Pedro has got a race drive for 2010 - he’s been a great asset to our team and, above all, a very dear friend to all of us. As has become customary with most teams, the first tests will be about establishing a baseline of performance, allowing the engineers and mechanics to learn and understand the new car and the impact of the new regulations. And, as in previous years, we’ll introduce a series of upgrades at one of the later tests, and that will be the car we take to the opening race.

Q: What is the initial feedback from your data and simulation work about the performance of MP4-25?

MW: During the development of MP4-25, we set ourselves some very high targets - and I’m enormously pleased with the way our designers and engineers have tackled the approach to the new car. The new regulations have obviously had an effect on the car’s appearance, with the much higher-capacity fuel tank looking more striking than before. But we’re pleased with a number of solutions we’ve been able to bring to the car, and I think we’re cautiously optimistic that, after the experience of last year and, in particular, the momentum we gathered in the second half of the season, we’ll have a competitive car for both Jenson and Lewis. Is it a championship contender? It’s still far too early to say. Will it win races? We certainly hope so. Am I proud of the effort we’ve currently invested in the car? Most definitely.

Q: You have the previous two world champions on board. How easy will it be manage Hamilton and Button, and ensure that both work for the benefit of the team?

MW: I’m relatively relaxed about the driver partnership. Knowing Lewis as I do, and having got to know more of Jenson during the limited time I’ve spent with him during his busy visits to MTC (McLaren Technology Centre), I feel relatively confident that our driver line-up this year will be a very stable and mutually productive one. But neither became world champion simply by driving at the limit on the racetrack; they’ve each been responsible for moulding and developing an organisation around them, and in exploiting the skills of their respective engineers to the best of their abilities. And it’s that sort of approach that we’ll be looking to encourage from both drivers in order to give us a performance advantage. We’ve also got an extremely experienced and capable race team, and we feel that will play absolutely to our drivers’ strengths. Equally, they know that Formula One in 2010 will be more competitive than ever before. Collaboration, understanding and the shared development of the car will be at the forefront of everybody’s mind. And given the testing limitations and the minimal track time at the weekend, it’s the only way to get ahead. Both Jenson and Lewis fully understand that. That’s why I’m so thrilled with our driver partnership - I really think it will play to the strengths of modern Formula One. Of course, we wouldn’t be going racing if we couldn’t let our drivers ‘off the leash’, but our absolute priority is to develop a front-running car.

Q: The main regulation change this year is the banning of refuelling. What impact will this have on the racing? Will it be better, or will it result in more processional races?

MW: Inevitably, when you make a change, there are pros and cons. Regarding the pros, it arguably makes qualifying purer because the fastest car/driver combination will be setting the fastest times, and the public can understand that. Secondly, in the race itself, overtaking was often being planned and implemented to occur as a consequence of strategy, and therefore happening in the pit lane and not the circuit. In the absence of that effect, drivers will have a greater incentive to overtake. There have been occasions in the past where a driver hasn’t had that incentive because he knows he will be running longer and can get past the car ahead strategically through the pit stops. Additionally, the fact that drivers will qualify on low-fuel, and then the next time they drive the car in anger into the first corner will be after a standing start with cold tyres and cold brakes and 160 kg of fuel. That will be very challenging for them, not just in terms of getting round that first corner, but in terms of how they look after their tyres and how the balance of the car will alter as a consequence of that. And there will be drivers who are able to deal with those changes better than others. Those are all the positives. On the negative side, it’s possible that if all of the above is managed equally well by every driver, then we’ll have lost one of the strategic campaign interests that the more avid fans enjoyed in the sport. Hopefully the former points will outweigh the latter.

Source:Formula1.com

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Ferrari aim thrashing Michael Schumacher

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali says Michael Schumacher's return to Formula 1 has fired up the Italian outfit and new recruit Fernando Alonso.

Schumacher, who won five world titles with Ferrari, is returning in 2010 with Mercedes, who won both titles in 2009 under their former guise, Brawn.

But Domencali insists Ferrari have him in their sights, saying: "Michael's return is inner motivation to our team.

"Fernando is the only driver on track to defeat Michael and he wants to win."

Schumacher's renewed rivalry with Alonso, who beat him to the 2005 and 2006 championships when driving for Renault, is one of the most eagerly anticipated match-ups of the new season, alongside 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton's first competitive meeting with Schumacher.

Relationships between the seven-time world champion and Alonso soured during their championship battle in 2006.

One flashpoint was when Schumacher deliberately crashed his car at slow speed to stop the Spaniard snatching pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Schumacher has never admitted to deliberately blocking the track but he was found guilty by race stewards and put to the back of the grid.

It was Alonso's turn to be furious at the Italian Grand Prix later that year when he was demoted five places for allegedly holding up Schumacher's team-mate Felipe Massa in qualifying.

Alonso has now arrived at Ferrari as Massa's team-mate for 2010 and he donned the famous red kit for the first time this week at the team's annual winter sports event at Italian ski resort Madonna di Campiglio.

Domenicali is relishing the battles ahead between his new Ferrari line-up and former employee Schumacher.

"Michael's return is further stimulus within our set-up," added Domenicali. "It has also triggered new interest and that is good for racing.

"It is right not to forget that what has happened has left its mark but now we have to turn the page.

"We have to show Michael that this is a strong team. We want to win.

"Fernando and Felipe are able to beat him even if Michael is still very strong."

Schumacher, who spent 11 years with Ferrari, was primed to step in for Massa after the Brazilian was forced to spend the rest of the 2009 season on the sidelines after his crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

However, an aggravated neck injury quashed Schumacher's hopes and now Massa, recuperated after fracturing his skull, is ready to return to racing.

Domenicali welcomed the new partnership between Massa and Alonso, who has replaced F1 exile Kimi Raikkonen, and believes it signals a new era for the Italian marque.

"We have two Latin drivers and it's a gush of fresh air which brings a sparkling, new environment," stated Domenicali.

"Fernando and Felipe are one of the strongest pairings amongst the teams."

The Ferrari boss also downplayed concerns about the balance of power within the team.

Massa emerged as the de factor number one driver in 2008, when he went on to lose the title to Hamilton by a single point.

However, Alonso is known to prefer to be top dog and openly accused McLaren of favouring his team-mate Hamilton during his tumultuous 2007 season with the Woking-based team.

Domenicali will be charged with balancing the power between Massa and Alonso at Ferrari but he is adamant internal rivalry will not be an issue.

"The rules are clear here," added Domenicali. "The drivers appreciate that.

"It was the same with Felipe and Kimi - one was stronger one year and then the other in the next and respect develops.

"People try to generate competition within our team but we have to be more rational inside."

Ferrari's countdown to the 2010 season begins with the launch of their car on 28 January at their Maranello base.

The team stopped developing their 2009 challenger, which was off the pace at the start of the season, last summer to focus on 2010 but Domenicali remains cautious about making predictions before the car has hit the track.

"I believe the prospects are good," said Domenicali. "Despite last season, which was difficult for a lot of reasons, we have consolidated for the future.

"I don't think we'll see how competitive we will be by the first test in February but maybe by the last test.

"Winning immediately would be better but let's stay calm if it doesn't happen."

Source:news.bbc.co.uk

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