2004 Hungarian Grand Prix

The 2004 Hungarian Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Marlboro Magyar Nagydíj 2004 ) [ 4 ] was a Formula One motor race that took place on 15 August 2004 at the Hungaroring , Mogyoród , Pest , Hungary. It was the thirteenth round of the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship .

Background

Across the weekend of 13-15 August, the Hungaroring in Mogyoród hosted a Formula One Grand Prix for the nineteenth time in the circuit's history, with it being the nineteenth Hungarian Grand Prix as a round of the Formula One World Championship as well. It was the thirteenth round of the 2004 Formula One World Championship . [ 5 ] [ 6 ]

Championship standings before the race

Going into the weekend, Michael Schumacher led the Drivers' Championship with 110 points , ahead of Scuderia Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello on 74 points and BAR 's Jenson Button on 65. [ 7 ] Ferrari were leading the Constructors' Championship with 184 points, from Renault (85 points) and BAR (76). [ 7 ]

Driver changes

Cristiano da Matta was dropped by the Toyota team because of his poor performance relative to teammate Olivier Panis . He was replaced by the team's third driver Ricardo Zonta but would stay on to perform marketing work while Toyota test driver Ryan Briscoe assumed Zonta's former position. [ 8 ]

Friday drivers

The bottom 6 teams in the 2003 Constructors' Championship were entitled to run a third car in free practice on Friday. These drivers drove on Friday but did not compete in qualifying or the race.

Qualifying

Despite lower track temperatures and a few drops of the rain, the front of the field saw little surprises. Michael Schumacher scored his seventh pole position of the season and the 62nd of his career, ahead of Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello and over half a second ahead of the BARs of Takuma Sato and Jenson Button . [ 15 ]

Race

At the start, Michael Schumacher comfortably kept his lead, while second-starting Rubens Barrichello was under pressure from Fernando Alonso , who had jumped up from fifth position. Both BARs had a slow getaway: Takuma Sato fell down to eighth, Jenson Button to fifth behind Juan Pablo Montoya . Ricardo Zonta 's first race for Toyota got off to a rocky start: he was pushed by one of the Jordans and could not avoid hitting the back of Mark Webber 's Jaguar . Zonta spun and rejoined in last place. ...

The Hungaroring 's configuration had been altered over the winter, the organisers hoping to create more overtaking opportunities, but the layout still caused the field to spread out and there were very little overtakes. On lap 14, Kimi Räikkönen retired due to mechanical problems for the eighth time this season and on lap 43, the engine on Jarno Trulli 's Renault failed. There were no other changes in the points-scoring positions for the remainder of the race. Button pressured Montoya for fourth...

Schumacher scored a dominant victory over Barrichello and Alonso. The German only needed to score two more points than Barrichello to clinch a record-breaking seventh World Championship. The 1-2 finish was enough for Scuderia Ferrari to clinch their sixth consecutive Constructors' Championship. [ 15 ]

External links

47°34′44″N 19°14′55″E / 47.57889°N 19.24861°E / 47.57889; 19.24861

Quick Facts

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix Race 13 of 18 in the 2004 Formula One World Championship← Previous raceNext race →

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix ← Previous race

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix The Hungaroring after being modified in 2003.

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix Race details[1][2]

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix Date

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix Official name

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix Location

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix Course

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix Course length

2004 Hungarian Grand Prix Distance

Table 1

Constructor	Nat	Driver
BAR-Honda	nan	Anthony Davidson
Sauber-Petronas	nan	-
Jaguar-Cosworth	nan	Björn Wirdheim
Toyota	nan	Ryan Briscoe
Jordan-Ford	nan	Timo Glock
Minardi-Cosworth	nan	Bas Leinders

Table 2

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Q1 Time	Q2 Time
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:19.107	1:19.146
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:18.436	1:19.323
3	10	Takuma Sato	BAR-Honda	1:19.695	1:19.693
4	9	Jenson Button	BAR-Honda	1:19.878	1:19.700
5	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:20.135	1:19.996
6	4	Antônio Pizzonia	Williams-BMW	1:20.019	1:20.170
7	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams-BMW	1:19.821	1:20.199
8	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber-Petronas	1:19.668	1:20.324
9	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:19.879	1:20.411
10	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren-Mercedes	1:20.066	1:20.570

Table 3

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	70	1:35:26.131
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	70	+ 4.696
3	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	70	+ 44.599
4	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams-BMW	70	+ 1:02.613
5	9	Jenson Button	BAR-Honda	70	+ 1:07.439
6	10	Takuma Sato	BAR-Honda	69	+ 1 Lap
7	4	Antônio Pizzonia	Williams-BMW	69	+ 1 Lap
8	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber-Petronas	69	+ 1 Lap
9	5	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes	69	+ 1 Lap
10	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar-Cosworth	69	+ 1 Lap

F1ABY Commentary

Consider this: does the relentless pursuit of victory, as witnessed here in Hungary, ever truly reflect the spirit of competition, or merely a calculated escalation of technological and strategic dominance? Schumacher’s twelfth win, a feat echoing Ascari’s own achievements, raises a pertinent question – are records simply waiting to be broken, or do they represent a stubborn resistance to the inevitable march of progress? The Italian team’s Constructors’ Championship secured, a testament to engineering prowess, yet the echoes of Fangio’s era linger, a reminder that even the most sophisticated machine is ultimately reliant on the skill and judgment of its driver. This season, much like the wartime years of the 1940s, the battle for supremacy is fought not just on the track, but in the laboratories and design studios across Europe. The very fabric of racing, it seems, is perpetually being rewoven.

The trajectory of motorsport history bends sharply here, mirroring the geopolitical shifts of the late 20th century – a ruthless pursuit of dominance, much like the struggles for power witnessed across Europe during the Cold War. Schumacher’s victory, a sixth consecutive Constructors’ Championship for Ferrari, echoes the steadfast resolve of empires, a testament to engineering and strategic control honed over decades. The Italian team’s supremacy is undeniable, a force shaping the very landscape of this sport.

F1ABY Trivia

The air hangs thick with the scent of asphalt and high-octane fuel – a familiar aroma here at the Hungaroring. Schumacher’s Ferrari, a 2004 F1-RB7 chassis powered by a 3. 0-liter naturally aspirated V10, clocked a lap time of 1:21. 466, a testament to its 670 horsepower. Observe the tire pressures; Michelin’s soft compound, utilized predominantly by Renault, presented a significant challenge, demanding a calculated approach from Alonso. This victory extends Schumacher’s record, mirroring the dominance of Ascari’s era.

The rain, a persistent, sullen guest throughout the day, finally relinquished its grip just as Schumacher wrestled the Ferrari to the checkered flag. A curious sequence unfolds: the German’s victory marked his twelfth triumph of the season, an achievement mirroring Alberto Ascari’s own record, yet separated by a span of forty years. Consider the statistical anomaly – seven consecutive wins, a feat previously unseen, and a testament to Ferrari’s dominance. Barrichello, a respectable second, demonstrated a consistent performance, a sharp contrast to McLaren’s struggles this season, a divergence that mirrored their championship challenge.

F1ABY Tales

Barrichello! A desperate lunge! He’s alongside, a sliver of blue against the scarlet – a maneuver echoing Fangio’s daring at Monza, a reminder that the spirit of attack remains etched into this circuit’s DNA. Schumacher, momentarily startled, defends with the precision of a seasoned tactician, mirroring the calculated aggression of Stewart in ’65. The crowd roars, a wave of sound mirroring the historical weight of battles fought and won upon this asphalt. This one-two, securing Ferrari’s sixth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, elevates them alongside the legendary Ascari, a lineage of dominance. The geopolitical tensions of the time – the burgeoning war in Iraq – seem a distant echo compared to the fierce competition unfolding here, a microcosm of global power struggles played out on four wheels. This is more than just a victory; it's a statement.

The rain, a persistent, sullen grey, mirrored the mood settling over the Ferrari garage. Schumacher, a study in controlled intensity, meticulously adjusted his helmet, a subtle shift in posture betraying the immense pressure of securing his seventh consecutive victory. The air, thick with the scent of damp asphalt and high-octane fuel, held a palpable tension. This Hungaroring, notorious for its treacherous damp patches, demanded absolute precision. The championship, as always, hinged on moments like these, a brutal ballet of speed and calculated risk. A victory here would cement Ferrari’s dominance, a statement that echoed through the sport’s storied past.