F1 Paddock Diary: Hungarian Grand Prix Part 2

Could a CEO change at Honda lead to a return to Formula 1 sooner rather than later? Will there be a Texan Grand Prix in the second half of 2021? Dieter Rencken brings more stories from the Hungaroring paddock?

Saturday

I arrive at the track and drive straight to a mid-season interview with Haas F1 team boss Günther Steiner, whom I have known since he was technical director at Red Bull in 2005. As always, the South Tyrolean deals calmly with clear – and sometimes humorous – answers to tricky questions that we share with you during the summer break.

The last practice session is my time on the track. Although the experience is an outrageous element of the “superfan”, the proximity and personal proximity to modern F1 cars allows us to understand what it takes to handle 1,000 horsepower on a narrow, twisting track and how the vehicle’s characteristics are despite the The efforts of the teams distinguish the same sets of rules. In fact, it’s just as fascinating to see differences in braking, curve lines, and speed between teammates.

The Hungarian Formula 1 guru Sandor Mezaros joins me and I choose turn three in order to best compare the car approaches from opposite perspectives. Sandor introduces me to a local who has not only ridden every Hungarian Grand Prix since 1986, but who has probably the best name for our sport: Kálmán Fi (pictured). For his friends he is “Mr F1”.

After the session, I’ll talk to Honda’s F1 managing director Masashi Yamamoto. I ask him if the company will get out of Formula 1 more than anyone else by the end of the year – four times if Associate Mugen is involved – and ask if that hopping hopes of the Big H’s return to Formula 1 after the end Left in 2021.

All he’s going to say is that Honda Motor Company appointed a new President and CEO – Toshihiro Mibe – this April. The implication is clear: the previous CEO made the final decision, ostensibly for sustainability reasons, but now he’s gone.

I also ask why Honda isn’t getting into Formula E. “Because we can’t learn anything from it,” says Yamamoto-san about the restrictive FE regulations, which is in line with BMW’s reason for withdrawing from the electric championship.

Given that Suzuka is owned by Honda, I am investigating the chances of the Japanese Grand Prix (the last Honda for the time being) in view of the spectator-free Olympics in October. He says a decision will be made on August 10th. However, other sources indicate that it could be a little later; In any case, further calendar details can be expected during the break (see below).

During my laps I watch FIA President Jean Todt and Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner talking in the association’s hospitality unit. I think the main topic is the “concern” expressed by the stewards after discussing the Silverstone saga on Thursday. On Friday, Horner revealed that this revolved around fears that Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff may have influenced the process by visiting the stewards during deliberations.

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After taking part in three steward seminars and having met most of the Formula 1 stewards over the years, I am convinced that they cannot be influenced, but an unsolicited visit to a “courtroom” with “evidence” is certainly exceptional, and the FIA ​​has made it clear that such opportunism cannot be tolerated.

As I leave for the hotel after the day’s media sessions, I am informed of news about a TBA “Texan Grand Prix”, which is listed on the website of F1 Experiences, a contracted service provider. I am told that the information was posted in error but it is an emergency event for others to be canceled due to Covid.

Sunday

My first point of contact is Ariane Franck-Meulenbelt, who inherited the promotional role of the Hungarian Grand Prix from her father Tamas, an initiator of the event. She tells me that the Hungaroring is expecting 65,000 spectators on race day, with a pedestrian frequency of around 130,000 on the three days – and that’s how it turns out when the daily figures are published.

A three-year modernization program is to begin next year, with the main entrance and access roads being refreshed, followed by extensions to the grandstands and, in the third year, a new paddock complex. Incredibly, the event is now 35 years old and was first held during the communist rule of the country; In fact, it is second only to Monza in terms of continuity on a single circuit.

During my hikes before the start, I recognize a familiar face – that of Bobby Epstein, the United States Grand Prix promoter. I can’t resist asking him about the Texas Grand Prix and he confirms talks are ongoing but nothing has been contracted.

The provisional date is 14-17. October, and he is pushing for a sprint qualification format to differentiate the two events. In fact, as a promoter, he is very enthusiastic about the sprint format.

Bobby tells me that they ordered a 170 foot pedestrian bridge to connect parts of the infield that are currently inaccessible due to access, bringing the capacity to 140,000. He hopes this year’s race will break all US sports attendance records when measured over three days.

This year, the Hungaroring offers a unique media terrace with a view over the pit lane, the paddock and the main straight and chose this as my vantage point for the start and the early laps. During the Red Flag hiatus, I am amazed at the efficiency of Max Verstappen’s crew turning off his Red Bull after he was innocently tagged during the crash sequence on the first lap.

I’m happy for him that the current regulations allow red flag repairs, which – like Lewis Hamilton before at Silverstone and Imola – brought him to the finish and scored points, but major red flag repairs, which should be in my book -Ferme regulations. Any work that is not required due to changes in climatic conditions should require the vehicle to be restarted at the end of the grid.

After the race, the traffic is extremely heavy due to the encouraging fans and the rather stormy weather – which makes my 35 km drive to the airport quite exhausting. Finally, I reach the gate in just a few minutes and come home shortly after midnight.

This brings the first half of this unpredictable season to an end – roll to my home Grand Prix in Spa on August 29th!

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