Jul.26 (GMM) Hungary might be a one-off for the much more competitive Red Bull team.
That is the claim of Felipe Massa, who had gone into this weekend warning that the tight and twisty Hungaroring might not suit Williams’ FW37 car.
On the other hand, the lack of straights makes it ideal for teams with struggling power units, like McLaren-Honda and Red Bull-Renault.
And Massa told Brazil’s Globo it also better suits Ferrari.
“This track is ideal for them, particularly Red Bull,” he said. “Maybe this is their best result in qualifying. Here and in Monaco and probably Singapore they have a more competitive car, while at the other tracks a bit less.”
But whether Williams is ahead of Ferrari and Red Bull or not, there are some in the paddock – notably McLaren’s Ron Dennis – who think a mere Mercedes ‘customer’ like the Grove based team will never be in a position to win races consistently.
Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda hits back at that notion.
“Williams has exactly the same engine as us,” he told the Spanish daily El Pais. “It is just that their car is not as good.
“Their car only goes well at tracks that do not require downforce,” Lauda added.