Official 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[paulguitar]

Derek Smith said:

CoolHands said:

So in all likelihood there s nothing wrong with the merc, just GR

I don't think we can say. It's something of a game. All part of the mystique. I've known drivers to lie. I've known team principals to lie. I've known an engine manufacturer to be economical with the truth.

There's plenty of info about this; have a listen to 'The Race' and 'Motorsport Magazine' podcasts.

The short version is that Russell has had a lot of issues that have been nothing to do with him.

[Milkyway]

TheDeuce said:

Just 6000km away from Bahrain!

And on a different continent...I take it that all entry tickets are transferable.

[Sandpit Steve]

Milkyway said:

TheDeuce said:

Just 6000km away from Bahrain!

And on a different continent...I take it that all entry tickets are transferable.

Bahrain circuit is taking registrations of interest - basically signing up to their mailing list, for ticketing information.

https://www.bahraingp.com/blog/events/register-int...

Not sure if they issued refunds yet to the original ticketholders, the announcement said the race was postponed rather than cancelled.

https://www.bahraingp.com/blog/news/bahrain-and-sa...

[Milkyway]

Sandpit Steve said:

Bahrain circuit is taking registrations of interest - basically signing up to their mailing list, for ticketing information.

https://www.bahraingp.com/blog/events/register-int...

Not sure if they issued refunds yet to the original ticketholders, the announcement said the race was postponed rather than cancelled.

https://www.bahraingp.com/blog/news/bahrain-and-sa...

Factor in that any ticket holders might want to rearrange accommodation & flights.
(Sooner rather than later).

[732NM]

Derek Smith said:

I don't think we can say. It's something of a game. All part of the mystique. I've known drivers to lie. I've known team principals to lie. I've known an engine manufacturer to be economical with the truth.

Everyone lies Derek, journalists also print utter cobblers, even when you give them all the correct details to help them write a piece what turns up in print doesn't match what you told them.

It can be extremely time consuming going through the history of a historic race car using reports and pieces written by very well respected journalists, which were utter cobblers in reality. These journals are used when dealing with the FIA to get a technical passport to race the car, proving the spec you have submitted is a genuine period used spec, even on a car straight out of a museum, never touched since when the team supplied it at end of season, is a battle.

Never trust a piece of journalism in motorsport is a good starting point. It's probably the same in all areas of life written about.

[Sandpit Steve]

Milkyway said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Bahrain circuit is taking registrations of interest - basically signing up to their mailing list, for ticketing information.

https://www.bahraingp.com/blog/events/register-int...

Not sure if they issued refunds yet to the original ticketholders, the announcement said the race was postponed rather than cancelled.

https://www.bahraingp.com/blog/news/bahrain-and-sa...

Factor in that any ticket holders might want to rearrange accommodation & flights.
(Sooner rather than later).

Oh indeed. Earlier in the year there were rumours that Abu Dhabi might be pushed a week to incorporate a rescheduled Saudi race, which had a noticeable effect on hotel rates in the city.

I’m planning to go, but I live taxi distance away from AD and won’t be buying tickets too early. Given the regional situation it’s unlikely to be sold out well ahead of time, but I’m still checking every couple of weeks!

[vaud]

Sandpit Steve said:

Oh indeed. Earlier in the year there were rumours that Abu Dhabi might be pushed a week to incorporate a rescheduled Saudi race, which had a noticeable effect on hotel rates in the city.

I m planning to go, but I live taxi distance away from AD and won t be buying tickets too early. Given the regional situation it s unlikely to be sold out well ahead of time, but I m still checking every couple of weeks!

What’s the minimum time a team need to know a race location and date for logistics?

[TheDeuce]

Milkyway said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Bahrain circuit is taking registrations of interest - basically signing up to their mailing list, for ticketing information.

https://www.bahraingp.com/blog/events/register-int...

Not sure if they issued refunds yet to the original ticketholders, the announcement said the race was postponed rather than cancelled.

https://www.bahraingp.com/blog/news/bahrain-and-sa...

Factor in that any ticket holders might want to rearrange accommodation & flights.
(Sooner rather than later).

Given that the GP is now taking place on a different continent, thousands of miles away, I expect most tickets holders would prefer a simple refund! With their funds restored, if they desire to go to what is really a completely different GP, they can buy new tickets.

They would be truly shafted if they were told their tickets were transferable, not refundable

[Josemartinez]

TheDeuce said:

Given that the GP is now taking place on a different continent, thousands of miles away, I expect most tickets holders would prefer a simple refund! With their funds restored, if they desire to go to what is really a completely different GP, they can buy new tickets.

They would be truly shafted if they were told their tickets were transferable, not refundable

Knowing the shambles that is formula 1 they would do that. Remember Belgium a few years ago.

What global billion dollar sport do you know that doesn't have professional paid referees or a president that runs opposed and removes term limits for example.

[TheDeuce]

Josemartinez said:

TheDeuce said:

Given that the GP is now taking place on a different continent, thousands of miles away, I expect most tickets holders would prefer a simple refund! With their funds restored, if they desire to go to what is really a completely different GP, they can buy new tickets.

They would be truly shafted if they were told their tickets were transferable, not refundable

Knowing the shambles that is formula 1 they would do that. Remember Belgium a few years ago.

What global billion dollar sport do you know that doesn't have professional paid referees or a president that runs opposed and removes term limits for example.

Oi! It's not a shambles! It's a carefully constructed dictatorship

[Sandpit Steve]

vaud said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Oh indeed. Earlier in the year there were rumours that Abu Dhabi might be pushed a week to incorporate a rescheduled Saudi race, which had a noticeable effect on hotel rates in the city.

I m planning to go, but I live taxi distance away from AD and won t be buying tickets too early. Given the regional situation it s unlikely to be sold out well ahead of time, but I m still checking every couple of weeks!

What s the minimum time a team need to know a race location and date for logistics?

Good question.

The limiting factor is going to be the sea freight, coming from China or Japan possibly? That needs to be there a week before the event, so the teams can set up their pits and hospitality units.

The air freight can go anywhere at almost no notice, FOM have half a dozen 747s on lease that will do that.

F1 logistics partner is DHL, who say they can get anything anywhere in a hurry if required!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjrzBOnc5yU
(To be fair, I got a renewed UK passport out of them in a couple of days recently).

[Milkyway]

Makes sense, nearly all the teams are UK or European based... so let's send them to Asia.

Edited by Milkyway on Saturday 1st August 18:04

[BrownEaredDog]

Derek Smith said:

CoolHands said:

So in all likelihood there s nothing wrong with the merc, just GR

I don't think we can say. It's something of a game. All part of the mystique. I've known drivers to lie. I've known team principals to lie. I've known an engine manufacturer to be economical with the truth.

This. If Toto gives George the hoof during the summer break then we will know - maybe - what the problem is. If it's the team's fault then it'll drown in a tsunami of press releases and "upgrades" to his car.

My own personal opinion is that George is reeling due to being comprehensively outdriven by his teammate this year (reliability notwithstanding), but that might also be because I just don't like him, try as I might :-/

[vaud]

Personally I go with the commentators and people who know Kimi - that he is a generational talent. Was it Max who said there are only two drivers he really respects - Lewis and Kimi?

[732NM]

Milkyway said:

Makes sense, nearly all the teams are UK or European based... so let's send them to Asia.

Edited by Milkyway on Saturday 1st August 18:04

It makes zero difference where they race, just slot it in where the logistics can make it work and where the money makes sense.
I can see a couple more being replaced, a Portimao final race would be fantastic. Lots of great memories at that track.

[PhilAsia]

732NM said:

Milkyway said:

Makes sense, nearly all the teams are UK or European based... so let's send them to Asia.

Edited by Milkyway on Saturday 1st August 18:04

It makes zero difference where they race, just slot it in where the logistics can make it work and where the money makes sense.
I can see a couple more being replaced, a Portimao final race would be fantastic. Lots of great memories at that track.

Yep, that would be great. It would probably suit the cars too this season!

[BrownEaredDog]

732NM said:

It makes zero difference where they race, just slot it in where the logistics can make it work and where the money makes sense.
I can see a couple more being replaced, a Portimao final race would be fantastic. Lots of great memories at that track.

+1. Portimao was my first thought for a "replacement" race too. It's a fantastic circuit.

[Milkyway]

Lollipopman Comics: Hungarian GP now on YouTube.
(If you have never watched these skits... they are different... & funny).

[INeedAHero]

I wonder if the Abu Dhabi GP could be held at Silverstone? 😀

[richhead]

said:

Im glad they didnt try to hang on to F1, every old track that F1 goes to is now a shadow of its former self.