Budapest welcomes Formula 1 this week as the teams assemble at the Hungaroring for the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix, the 12th round of this year’s World Championship, exclusively live on Sky Sports F1.
Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg heads into this weekend’s race in Budapest looking to increase his world championship lead ahead of the summer break, looking to equal the tally of five wins in 2014 by his team-mate Lewis Hamilton (above), who has been victorious for the past two years in Hungary.
Indeed Hamilton will be looking to make it five wins in eight years at the Hungaroring on Sunday afternoon, as well regain the impetuous in the championship battle after a home win for Rosberg in Germany last week.
The Hungaroring is a track that has a habit of throwing up interesting results, which could favour the resurgent Williams team, whose flying Finn Valtteri Bottas has taken three consecutive podium finishes.
Four drivers – Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Damon Hill and Heikki Kovalainen – have enjoyed breakthrough victories in Hungary over the years and Bottas would love to add his name to that list.
For many in the F1 paddock it has been a hectic few days with the teams looking to negotiate the back-to-back race weekends following last week’s German Grand Prix.
Hungary represents a huge logistics effort for teams, pushed to their limits to transfer cars, garage equipment and motorhomes the 800km between the two circuits.
Dubbed for many years as ‘Monaco without the barriers’, the twisting Hungaroring is similar in characteristic to a street circuit, lacking the walls but retaining the tight radius corners, bumpy surface and low grip.
It has something of a mixed reputation among drivers, though common consensus claims it to be a wonderful track for a qualifying lap but a difficult place to race, given the paucity of overtaking opportunities.
In close battles, good strategy has frequently been the decisive factor, more so than at other permanent circuits.
In the compelling battle for the Drivers’ World Championship title, the pendulum swung back in favour of Nico Rosberg at Hockenheim with the German driver extending his lead to 14 points with an authoritative victory.
Team-mate Lewis Hamilton will not be too despondent, however, having battled back from a qualifying-session brake failure that left him starting near the back of the field, he limited his losses with a charge to third place.
With four pole positions and four victories at the Hungaroring he will be confident of reducing the deficit this weekend.
Follow all the action from the 11th round of the 2014 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season live on Sky Sports F1, or by watching extended free-to-air highlights of qualifying and the race on BBC TV.
OFFICIAL F1 WEBSITE TRACK GUIDE LIVE TIMING
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FORMULA 1 2014 ON SKY SPORTS F1 HD
Sky Sports F1 is the only place to see the whole Hungarian Grand Prix weekend live as the championship ventures into round 11 at the Hungaroring.
The race will be shown live and uninterrupted on Sunday afternoon, along with the qualifying session on Saturday, plus there will be full coverage of the Friday and Saturday morning practice sessions.
Simon Lazenby will anchor Sky Sports F1’s live coverage throughout the weekend where he will be joined by regulars Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert.
Ted Kravitz and Natalie Pinkham will provide the latest news and reports and from the pit lane, while commentary on all sessions comes from David Croft.
Martin Brundle will join Croft in the commentary box for both qualifying and the race, with former Williams driver Bruno Senna calling the practice sessions this weekend, as well as providing his insights via the Sky Pad during the weekend.
During the race, a host of interactive additions, including on-board cameras, pit-lane feeds, the latest race stats and much more available via the red button and the Sky Sports for iPad app.
For those who won’t be at home, every second of the action can be seen via computers, laptops, mobiles and tablet devices on Sky Go.
Further information, news and video content can be found at skysports.com/f1, and viewers are encouraged to interact with the live programmes via Twitter – @SkySportsF1, #SkyF1.
In addition, Sky Sports F1 will also screen the GP2 and GP3 Series races in Hungary with the qualifying sessions and races live over the weekend. Commentary is led by Will Buxton.
Friday 25th July
Free Practice 1 – Start: 09:00
LIVE: 8.45am-11.00am Sky Sports F1
Free Practice 2 – Start: 13:00
LIVE: 12.45pm-2.50pm Sky Sports F1
The F1 Show
LIVE: 5.00pm-6.00pm Sky Sports F1
Saturday 26th July
Practice 3 – Start: 10:00
LIVE: 9.45am-11.15am Sky Sports F1
Qualifying – Start: 13:00
LIVE: 12.00pm-2.35pm Sky Sports F1
Sunday 27th July
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX – Race Start: 13:00
Track Parade: 11.30am-12.00pm Sky Sports F1
RACE LIVE: 12.00pm-3.30pm Sky Sports F1
Paddock Live: 3.30pm-4.15pm Sky Sports F1
Highlights: 7.15pm-8.15pm Sky Sports F1
The BBC will broadcast free-to-air TV highlights of the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix from Budapest as the fascinating championship battle continues.
Suzi Perry presents all the action from the Hungaroring alongside regular analysts David Coulthard and Allan McNish, who will all provide their unique take on proceedings from the pit lane and paddock.
Extended highlights of both qualifying and the race will be shown in primetime on BBC TV over the weekend.
The qualifying session will be broadcast on BBC Two on Saturday teatime at 5.40pm, with an 80-minute race highlights show following on Sunday over on BBC One at 5.10pm.
Commentary on qualifying and the race comes from Ben Edwards and David Coulthard, with Tom Clarkson providing regular updates and interviews from the pit-lane.
With regular reporter Lee McKenzie working on the BBC’s Commonwealth Games coverage, 5 live’s Jennie Gow will again take on an expanded TV and radio role over the weekend, where she will be on hand to conduct interviews with the drivers and team personnel.
In addition, Inside F1 on BBC News Channel will preview and review the weekend’s action on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The BBC Sport website will have live streaming of BBC TV’s broadcasts, as well as additional video content including highlights of practice sessions, qualifying and the race, plus interviews and analysis.
All of the BBC’s TV coverage will be available to view shortly after transmission on BBC iPlayer.
BBC Radio 5 Live will also have live audio commentary of every on-track session from Budapest with Jack Nicholls and Jennie Gow.
Saturday 26th JulyHungarian Grand Prix: Qualifying Highlights: 5.40pm-6.55pm BBC Two Sunday 27th July Hungarian Grand Prix: Race Highlights: 5.10pm-6.30pm BBC One
