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Tyres NorthamptonThe slow and twisty circuit had a reputation for boring races, but recent years have had Hungary hosting highly entertaining rounds, and this year could see another. Unlike in recent seasons, the 70 laps around the Hungaroring is not the final race before the summer holidays — the break that sees each F1 team take a mandatory 14-day shutdown — with the following weekend's Belgian GP taking that role. As such, any development upgrades the teams bring to Budapest should serve them well for two rounds, with Red Bull, McLaren, Haas, and Alpine all expected to have improved parts.
One story is sure to capture far more attention than any other over the Hungarian weekend: the return of Daniel Ricciardo to F1 after his half-year absence. AlphaTauri waved Nyck de Vries off after just 10 rounds to replace him with the smiling Australian, who has had a humbling few years but will be looking to hit the ground running at the site of his second-ever F1 win.
The move didn't come from the AlphaTauri team, with Red Bull's head honchos Christian Horner and Helmut Marko being the architects of dismissing De Vries from their junior constructor. Whether you agree with the decision or not, there's no doubt that the switch will heap pressure on the underperforming Sergio Perez should Ricciardo drive at the level he's capable of.
Elsewhere, the slightly altered qualifying format that Imola was meant to trial before its cancellation will take place on Saturday. The updated structure will force the top 10 drivers to use all three compounds across Q1, Q2, and Q3. The so-called 'Alternative Tyre Allocation' obliges drivers to use the hard tyres in the first session, mediums for Q2, and only the soft compound in the fight for pole position.
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After last year's race, where Pirelli brought the C2 tyre to comedic effect on Charles Leclerc, whose race pace evaporated on the hard tyre, it's the softest compound set for the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. C3, C4, and C5 tyres are available for all drivers. However, they will have two fewer sets than usual, thanks to the aforementioned 'Alternative Tyre Allocation' debuting on Saturday, meaning any flat-spotting lockups will be more harmful than ever.
The Hungaroring is an odd track compared to many on the calendar, as it rarely sees any racing while still being a permanent facility. As such, the circuit surface always 'rubbers in' as the weekend progresses, and Friday's Free Practice sessions are as much about clearing dust from the racing line as they are obtaining data for Sunday's grand prix. Expect lap times to drop dramatically over the three days.
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Daniel Ricciardo has won in Hungary before, but it'll be a comeback of biblical levels should he drag his new AlphaTauri to reach the top step on Sunday. Instead, his ex-teammate Max Verstappen will look to continue his non-stop run to take a seventh consecutive win and keep Red Bull on track to complete F1's first season with only one winning team.
It's unclear which drivers are the best placed to stop that from happening after the British Grand Prix threw any idea of the chasing pack's running order out the window. Lando Norris almost took pole position and led the race's opening laps in an unexpected resurgence from McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton crossing the line just behind him in third place. Whether McLaren are full-time challengers alongside Mercedes and Ferrari remains to be seen, but they'll undoubtedly want to continue the feel-good factor this weekend.
Esteban Ocon won a nail-biting Hungarian race in 2021, and Alpine will hope their Hungary upgrades could see a return to the front. Fernando Alonso's assistance that day helped Ocon to the top; however, the Spaniard isn't in Alpine colours any more and will want to see his Aston Martin team return to the podium after two races without silverware. In short, although a Verstappen victory is likely, there's no way to know who will slot in behind him.
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Unfortunately for those without, it's a return to Sky Sports as the only place for British viewers to watch the live action, with Qualifying at 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday's race starting at 2 PM.
Qualifying – On air: 2 PM, Session start: 3 PM Saturday 22nd July
Race – On air: 12:30 PM, Session start: 2 PM Sunday 23rd July
Qualifying – Highlights 6:45 PM Saturday 22nd July
Race – Highlights 6:30 PM Sunday 23rd July
Qualifying/Race – Rain continues to be an ever-present threat to F1 weekends, but the worst of the weather should fall on Friday rather than in any competitive running. Saturday and Sunday's forecasts have highs of 28°C and 30°C, respectively, with dry and sunny weather expected.