The maximum uncertainty before the classification of the Hungarian GP and Alonso did not improve

It’s true that everything can change with the aim of qualifying and all teams are still keeping their best ace for ‘qualy’ this Saturday afternoon (4:00 pm / DAZN F1), but what was seen in Free Practice 3 of the Hungarian F1 GP left a strange feeling and something different on the rest of the course. Only in Monaco was Max Verstappen’s victory in jeopardy, when Alonso challenged him to a turn, staying a few thousandths from pole position and close to glory on Sunday. And in Hungary, a buzzard track, neither Red Bull nor Max Verstappen seems to show the superiority of the other tracks, nor is the fight the same. Red Bull took pole position at all tracks except Baku, with 2 for the ‘Czech’ and 7 out of 10 possible for Max. And in the race, Red Bull won everything this year, 8 with Ma and two with the ‘Czech’. For this reason, many rubbed their eyes and despite the doubts, they did not finish believing what they were seeing before the ‘qualy’ arrived at the Hungaroring. Is this the season Red Bull hasn’t won? And another unanswered question: Who will compete with Red Bull? There is no shortage of candidates, this time many are showing their heads and threatening to do so.

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In Free Practice 3, Mercedes showed its potential leading the session with Lewis Hamilton, with a 1’17″811 where he beat Max Verstappen (2nd) by 0″250. Can Lewis fight back for a win against the Dutchman? F1 will appreciate this, it wants to see the 7-time champion fight for everything against his great rival from that controversial 2021 World Cup again. But there is more. ‘Checo’ Pérez finished in third position (0″256), just a thousandth behind Max, which could indicate that the man from Guadalajara has regained confidence, or that Verstappen is saving himself a lot of time to deliver the final blow in qualifying.

Nico Hülkenberg finished fourth at 0″266 with Haas which was no longer a surprise in terms of its potential in one lap but then sunk on Sunday. And behind him, one of the biggest threats to Verstappen at the moment: Lando Norris and his renewed McLaren. The English driver finished 2nd at Silverstone and the most surprising thing is that his slow thing did not keep him away from Hungary for a long time. FP3 Lando issued a strong warning, concluded in 5th at 0″271, but with a set time on the worst tire: the medium. Note the McLaren that doesn’t seem to have been bluffed.

Sainz, 8th

It remains to be seen what Ferrari can do. Everyone put him in the fight for pole position or at least the first two starting lines. But they must be confirmed in the classification. So far, in Free Practice 3 they have focused their work on their long-term speed and on continuing to check the tires ahead of Sunday’s race. They made a final attempt that left those in red with Leclerc 7th at 0″379 and Sainz 8th at 0″423. They should get more claws in ‘qualy’.

Alonso, far away

We said Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari should show their candidacy to lead the chasing zone, or even some of them fight for pole and try to put Verstappen and Red Bull in trouble on Sunday. But unfortunately, Aston Martin doesn’t seem to be at that level. Much was expected of those in green on a track that should have highlighted the strength of their car due to the lack of fast corners and long straights, but so far, those from Silverstone have not been on top.

Fernando Alonso finished 9th at 0″539 and Stroll was 11th at 7 tenths. If Aston Martin is far from this track, the ‘sorpasso’ of teams like Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren will be confirmed in their best evolutions and the development of the car, something that can happen because of the enormous muscle of its factories and its quick reaction there is still no hope in its future factory that still has parts in the future. That could be the key.

But sometimes you also have to misthink to fix it. This fall coincided with Pirelli’s mid-season tire change, since the last F1 British GP, with the introduction of harder casings. The shoes used to play have changed: some can walk further than before because they are no longer barefoot, while others have toes coming out of the tips. Better tire management and less race degradation is one of Aston Martin’s greatest strengths at the start of the course. With tougher casings, that’s probably less of a problem for its rivals, who have made some smart improvements. We have to wait for the teams to assess this change in the rules of the game. And see what Aston Martin can really do this Saturday and in the race.