By Phil Huff
August 2 2007

The Hungaroring has been a regular fixture on the GP calendar since 1986 when it became the first Formula One event to take place in Eastern Europe. Until recently, the circuit layout had remained the same since 1989, when an unplanned kink around an underground spring was removed, shortening the track and making it the second shortest lap on the current F1 calendar.

The twisty layout, with modifications made in 2003, also makes this the slowest circuit bar Monaco, and three corners (the Turn 2 and 13 hairpins, plus the Turn 6/7 chicane) are all 90 km/h turns. The fastest corner is the relatively modest 170km/h left-hand kink at Turn 4.

Low grip levels mean tyre wear is kept to a minimum, while the low speeds keep break wear in check. Fuel consumption is also low, despite the high downforce levels; each lap should see the RA107 use around 2kg of fuel, while the fuel effect (the extra time it takes to get round the circuit when heavier with fuel) is a significant 0.45s per 10kg of fuel. As such, Honda's current trend of taking a one stop strategy will be tough to repeat but, with good track position and a track that makes overtaking tricky, it could still work out.

Honda-powered drivers have taken victory in Hungary six times, Nelson Piquet taking the chequered flag in 1986 and 1987 and Ayrton Senna winning in 1988, 1991 and 1992. At last years event Jenson Button took victory from fourth on the grid in a rain affected race, acquiring both his and Honda Racing F1's first wins. Team mate Rubens Barrichello lined up ahead of Jenson, and finished in a strong fourth place.