Brawn GP vs. Red Bull in Hungarian GP
Yes, it’s all about Brawn GP and Red Bull now.
The 2009 Formula 1 season has developed into a fascinating battle between Brawn GP and Red Bull. At one point Brawn’s Jenson Button appeared to be running away with the championship, but Red Bull’s Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel are closing in on the Englishman as we approach Hungary.
The 2009 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix should see a titanic battle between Brawn GP and Red Bull. Mark Webber should be riding high with confidence after scoring his maiden F1 win last time out.
The Hungaroring offers plenty of challenges to not only Red Bull, but all the drivers and engineers alike. The circuit features no high-speed corners, leading the team to run the highest possible downforce levels, while the primary concern for the engine team is ensuring good cooling in the usually hot conditions. The high summer temperatures also make life difficult for the drivers, who need to be in peak physical condition to cope with a race that gives them very little respite over its 70-lap distance.
The Red Bull team will be on a high with Mark Webber winning his first Grand Prix in style at the Nurburgring. He will be keen to follow up his success with another race win no doubt.
Webber’s Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel is surely happy for Webber being a nice young whipper-snapper but will need to drive his nuts off ASAP if he wants to kick this aussie’s behind back to the down-under.
As far as Brawn GP is concerned, it’s been a drop-off in form. However this could all change should the weather be hot and steamy-dry along with car upgrades scheduled for this weekend.
For their sake, let’s hope that is the case. Jenson Button needs to get his ass back on the podium.
The twisting, 14-corner layout of the Hungaroring features just one legitimate overtaking opportunity per lap, into turn 1. Apart from this straight of just over 700m, the circuit is filled with sequences of low to medium-speed corners, with short braking distances which make overtaking nearly impossible. The result is that the teams all run with maximum downforce levels, similar if not identical to those used in Monaco, in order to optimize not just cornering speeds, but also braking and traction. Maximum speeds achieved on the main straight rarely exceed 300kph with the V8 engines.
Mechanical grip is an important factor at a low-speed circuit such as this, and teams will generally try to run the car with softer settings all round to improve mechanical grip. The drivers want a responsive car in the low-speed sections, with good traction on corner exit, which will usually lead the teams to a forward mechanical bias (stiffer front/softer rear) in terms of set-up. However, rear tire wear must be monitored very carefully, particularly to avoid overloading the softer compound available this weekend.
Can Jenson Button win the 2009 F1 Drivers Championship and punch in the first world championship for Brawn GP? SPORTSBETTING.COM has the odds.
Jenson Button 6-5
Lewis Hamilton 8-1
Felipe Massa 8-1
Fernando Alonso 14-1
Want more odds? Visit SPORTSBETTING.COM for more F1 betting odds. Want to watch F1 live? Get sporting events tickets online now.
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