Drugovich Unveils Key to Hungaroring Mastery

Felipe Drugovich reveals his top strategies for successful overtaking maneuvers at the challenging Hungaroring circuit.

Felipe Drugovich has completed numerous laps of the Hungaroring… in the simulator these past few days.

The Aston Martin F1 reserve driver indeed racked up virtual laps of the Hungarian track to optimally prepare the settings of the AMR24 for this weekend.

After navigating it hundreds of times, what can the Brazilian say about this track? Does it deserve its nickname of the Hungarian merry-go-round? Of Monaco without the walls?

“It’s one of the shortest circuits in F1, but it’s also one of the most enjoyable, with nice elevation changes and a good mix of slow and fast corners.”

“I drove the AMR21 (the F1 car from three years ago, editor’s note) at the Hungaroring. It might not have been the current generation of F1, but it was still a fantastic experience. You really realize how narrow the track is when you’re in an F1 car. It’s a fluid circuit and, at the speed of an F1, it’s very exciting to drive.”

“Qualifying is very important in Hungary. Factors such as tire degradation during the race can facilitate overtaking, but it is very difficult to pass, so being well-placed on the grid usually allows you to secure a positive race result.”

“It is crucial to master Sector 2 to achieve a fast lap in qualifying because it involves a combination of low, medium, and high-speed turns – you need to link them well to avoid losing crucial tenths.”

“It is difficult to achieve a perfect lap on the circuit because of the significant tire degradation. In qualifying, you can start with brand new tires, but they degrade quickly with so many turns – their management is crucial for both qualifying and the race.”

Overtaking at the Hungaroring is said to be nearly impossible. Felipe Drugovich counters: difficult, but not impossible.

“The place where you’ll see the most overtaking is at the end of the first DRS zone in Turn 1. It’s a big braking area. You might see some in Turn 2, but after that, it could be a whole lap before you get the chance to overtake again.”

“To set up an overtake at the first turn, it is crucial to keep the tires clean and avoid overheating them earlier in the lap.”

“The last three corners of the lap are crucial for an overtake in the first corner, and you need to be perfect. If you’re behind someone, you must get out of their dirty air in this turn sequence to stay close, then use the DRS up to the first corner.”

“You can also set up one of your overtakes in the second corner by feigning an attempt in the first corner, which prompts your opponent to defend, giving you a better chance to pass in the second corner.”

It is expected to be 32 degrees Celsius at the Hungaroring next Sunday: thermal degradation and heat management will thus be crucial… The endurance of the drivers will also be severely tested.

“It’s a circuit where you don’t get much time to breathe. It’s one corner after another with very few long straights and, in an F1 car, it’s quite physically demanding, especially in such heat.”

“The pace of the cars in the race is slower than in qualifying due to factors such as tire degradation and fuel load, so you go through the corners slower than in qualifying, but it will still be physically challenging for the drivers.”

“However, they will be perfectly prepared to meet the challenge. They are in excellent physical shape and will hydrate properly throughout the weekend.”

The role of the simulator driver’s shadow

As a reserve driver at Aston Martin F1, Felipe Drugovich is thus the team’s man in the shadows.

Can he describe in more detail his daily routine, or the significance of his role?

“We are always trying to improve the car and working on the simulator is an essential element. We test new parts that might be used in upgrades if the data indicates a positive impact on the car’s performance.”

“It’s really rewarding when you get to the end of the day and you see in the data that there are things that have helped improve the car, based on what the team wanted to try and from my own feedback.”

“During a race week, I also spend time getting familiar with the track and the settings for the upcoming weekend. I will be in Hungary this weekend with the team as a reserve driver, and I need to be ready in case something happens to Lance or Fernando, so I’m driving on the Hungaroring in the simulator this week before flying out to Hungary.”

“This weekend in Hungary, I will attend engineering meetings and briefings and give my input wherever I can, as we are aiming for a positive result. I will also gather as much information as possible to be ready to drive if needed. I will do everything that Lance and Fernando do.”