• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hungarian Grand Prix Preview

Aug 5, 2007 - 10:33 AM

August 5, 2007 
Hungaroring 
Budapest, Hungary 
Race 11 of 17 in Grand Prix Series

Laps: 77 
Track length: 2.470 miles 
Race length: 190 miles

Lap Record: Michael Schumacher, 1:19.071 (2004)


DRIVERS TO WATCH
----------------

Fernando Alonso (Spain)
Team: McLaren 
2007 Points: 68 (2nd)

Won the Grand Prix of Europe two weeks ago to climb within two
points of rookie teammate and points leader Lewis Hamilton; has
finished in the top five in eight of 10 starts this season;
finished seventh at both the French and Canadian Grands Prix;
placed second at the Santander British Grand Prix and was
runner-up to Hamilton at Indianapolis; won at Monaco and ran
third at hometown Spanish Grand Prix; stormed to an easy victory
at Malaysia and registered a second-place finish in his McLaren
debut at Australia, finishing 7.2 seconds behind Kimi
Raikkonen; won this race in 2003, but retired last year.


Lewis Hamilton (Britain)
Team: McLaren 
2007 Points: 70 (1st)

The points leader finished ninth at the Grand Prix of Europe,
and now leads teammate Alonso by just two points; took third in
back-to-back races at the British Grand Prix and Magny-Cours,
after making history at Canada where he become the first black
driver to win a Formula One race; followed that victory in
Canada by winning the United States Grand Prix; placed second in
four consecutive races prior to his back-to-back wins; rookie
sensation has burst onto the circuit by storm, running third at
Australia and placing second at Malaysia, Bahrain, Spain and
Monaco; finished 18 seconds behind Alonso at Malaysia and is
first rookie in series history since 1964 to capture podium
finishes in his first three races; also is the first black
driver in series history; has finished among the top five in all
but one start this year.


Nick Heidfeld 
Team: BMW Sauber 
2007 Points: 36 (5th)

Has consecutive sixth-place finishes over the past two races to
remain fifth place in the points standings; seeking first win of
the season; opened the year with three consecutive fourth place
finishes at Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain; had best race of
the season at Canada where he finished second; forced to retire
at Spain and the United States Grand Prix; has five top five
finishes in 10 starts this year; finished third in this event
last season.


Felipe Massa (Brazil)
Team: Ferrari 
2007 Points: 59 (3rd)

Moved back into third in the standings with a runner-up finish
at the Grand Prix of Europe after slipping to fourth following a
fifth place finish British Grand Prix; is 11 points behind
Hamilton and leads Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen by seven
points; was runner-up to Raikkonen at Magny-Cours; also was
black-flagged at Canada; ran third at Indianapolis and Monaco
after capturing two straight checkered flags at Bahrain and
Spain; finished fifth at Malaysia; kicked off his campaign with
a sixth place at Australia; has eight top five finishes in 10
starts this season; ran seventh in this race last season.


Kimi Raikkonen (Finland)
Team: Ferrari 
2007 Points: 52 (4th)

Retired from the Grand Prix of Europe after consecutive
checkered flag wins at the British Grand Prix and Magny-Cours;
dropped to fourth in the standings behind Massa; his three wins
tie Alonso for the most on the circuit this season and he has
seven top five finishes in 10 starts; finished fourth at
Indianapolis and fifth at Canada; struggled to eighth place at
Monaco and retired due to electrical problems at Spain, dropping
him from first to fourth in the standings; had a dazzling debut
with new team Ferrari, capturing the checkered flag in the
season opener at Australia; joined Ferrari after spending the
last five years with McLaren; retired from this event last
season.


2006 Top 10
-----------
1.  Jenson Button, Great Britain, Honda 
2.  Pedro de la Rosa, Spain, McLaren-Mercedes 
3.  Nick Heidfeld, Germany, Sauber-BMW 
4.  Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Honda 
5.  David Coulthard, Great Britain, RBR-Ferrari 
6.  Ralf Schumacher, Germany, Toyota 
7.  Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari 
8.  Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari 
9.  Tiago Monteiro, Portugal, MF1-Toyota 
10. Christijan Albers, Netherlands, MF1-Toyota


Past Champions
--------------
2006  Jenson Button, Honda 
2005  Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren-Mercedes 
2004  Michael Schumacher, Ferrari 
2003  Fernando Alonso, Renault 
2002  Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari 
2001  Michael Schumacher, Ferrari 
2000  Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes 
1999  Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes 
1998  Michael Schumacher, Ferrari 
1997  Jacques Villeneuve, Williams
1996  Jacques Villeneuve, Williams 
1995  Damon Hill, Williams
1994  Michael Schumacher, Benetton 
1993  Damon Hill, Williams
1992  Ayrton Senna, McLaren 
1991  Ayrton Senna, McLaren 
1990  Thierry Boutsen, Williams 
1989  Nigel Mansell, Ferrari 
1988  Ayrton Senna, McLaren 
1987  Nelson Piquet, Williams 
1986  Nelson Piquet, Williams