2012 Hungarian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Alonso leads the championship on 154 points after Germany. Webber is second on 120, Vettel third on 110, Räikkönen fourth on 98, and Hamilton fifth on 92.

Previous race

Alonso won in Germany ahead of Button and Räikkönen. It was Alonso’s fourth win of the season and his second in a row. Vettel finished in the points but Hamilton and Webber struggled, leaving Alonso’s lead growing to 34 points.

Between-race developments

After Red Bull were found to have manipulated engine throttle mapping at Hockenheim to enhance exhaust-blown diffuser downforce — technically within the existing rules — the FIA rewrote the throttle-mapping regulations for Hungary, requiring teams to submit a “reference map” from an early race and restricting subsequent torque output changes. Red Bull were cleared for the German GP itself but are now subject to the new rules.

Entrants

Clos replaces Karthikeyan at HRT for FP1. Bianchi drives for Force India (replacing Hülkenberg) and Bottas takes Senna’s Williams seat in the first practice session.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the white-banded medium compound as the prime and yellow-banded soft as the option. This is the first Hungarian Grand Prix in the single-supplier tyre era where the super-soft compound is not used.

Weather

Fine, dry, and very hot conditions are forecast — 30°C air temperature, 45°C track.