No respite in Hungary for Formula 1 drivers

7/19/2023

After the huge crowds at Silverstone attracting more than 480,000 spectators over the weekend, Formula 1 travels to Eastern Europe for the Hungaroring event.

After the huge crowds at Silverstone attracting more than 480,000 spectators over the weekend, Formula 1 travels to Eastern Europe for the Hungaroring event. According to Brembo engineers, it is a track with a medium level of difficulty for brakes. On a scale of 1 to 5, it is rated 3 on the difficulty index.

The twisting circuit and rare opportunities for overtaking, not to mention switchback corners more like a huge go-kart track, recall the Monte Carlo GP without the walls. Getting a good place on the starting grid is absolutely vital. The lack of long straight sections is a major limit as regards brake cooling.

Hungaroring: almost like Monte Carlo 

On each lap around the Hungaroring, Formula 1 drivers apply their brakes 11 times for a total of 14.19 seconds of braking per lap, equivalent to 19% of the duration of the Grand Prix. This is a high figure, yet the Monte Carlo grand prix - despite being one km shorter, involves 12 braking moments during the race, equivalent to 25% of the duration of this event!

The 11 braking points during the Hungarian GP are characteristically very different, especially as regards deceleration - which through 4 corners exceeds 4.5 g. Four more corners range between 3 and 4 g, while others are just below 2.8 g. Unusually, brakes have to be applied in 4 consecutive corners (11 to 14) even though none allow braking distances of more than 90 meters. From start to finish, every driver applies an overall braking pressure of 81 tonnes - a figure only less than those for the Monte Carlo and Singapore grand prix.

4.8 G on the first corner 

Of the 11 braking sections at the Hungarian GP, 4 are classified as highly demanding, 2 are medium intensity and the remaining 5 are light intensity.

The hardest on the brake system is the first corner: to drop from 317 km/h (198.8 mph) to 95 km/h (59 mph), drivers have to brake for 2.7 seconds with a load of 151 kg (313 lb) on the brake pedal during which they are subjected to 4.8 G deceleration. In that length of time, the single-seaters travel 120 meters (387 feet).

And what about the video games? 

Even in the Formula 1 video game, late braking at the first corner after the start could even cause a chain reaction accident, with the risk of an early exit from the race given the narrow track.

Once the cars are spread out, drivers can attempt to overtake by clever braking at the 100 meter sign. After dropping into second gear, drivers shift up to third while moving the car to the right - and even over the curb - to discourage attacks by other teams.