Fast starts help Ferrari unlock soft tyre pace for win

2015 Hungarian Grand Prix lap times and fastest laps

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[interactivecharts]Ferrari were able to win the Hungarian Grand Prix because the rapid starts made by Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen allowed them to make the most of their car’s pace on soft tyres.

Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said the team had endured a “horrible” Friday at the Hungaroring but were in better shape after Saturday. “But still we didn’t know we could win the race,” he said. “We were only confident that we could fight at the front.”

That all changed when Vettel and Raikkonen took full advantage of starting on the clean side of the track to pass both Mercedes drivers around the opening corners.

“Both Seb and Kimi had a tremendous start,” said Arrivabene, “and being able to drive in clean air surely made a difference in terms of tyre management, as we knew the first two sets of [softs] would perform very well.”

Sure enough, Nico Rosberg had no answer for their pace at this point in the race, and with Lewis Hamilton mired back in the pack Vettel was able to stretch his legs at the front. By lap 17 he was leading Raikkonen by almost three seconds and Rosberg was another seven seconds back.

With Rosberg switching to medium tyres for his middle stint, Vettel pulled away at an en quicker rate. At the half-way point in the race Rosberg was 22 seconds behind. Even with his final soft-tyre stint to come, and even allowing for Ferrari being weaker on the medium tyres, this was a very strong showing by Ferrari. Had it not been for Raikkonen’s mid-race MGU-K failure, they had a strong chance of taking their first one-two finish for five years.

2015 Hungarian Grand Prix lap times

All the lap times by the drivers (in seconds, very slow laps excluded):

https://www.racefans.net/charts/2015drivercolours.csv

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758596061626364656667686970
Lewis Hamilton101.63591.34590.86190.20190.36390.10190.39790.67589.75188.7189.96690.48688.55988.14188.11587.69587.86287.96190.955107.1787.01387.63588.44889.2388.44788.26388.32188.41287.4587.03287.30386.94786.80187.59987.97588.07687.8689.34988.57188.67289.07898.98129.025109.706117.788143.815143.854124.96995.08890.0992.414111.70886.90893.48599.40185.87186.09686.49588.11288.49386.01286.93885.83986.17887.24988.66387.18485.72786.491
Nico Rosberg95.97889.49988.80888.40988.27788.21488.56388.45988.69288.88889.09288.65888.59189.02788.54988.27688.79488.52188.53191.91106.43288.3687.9789.19589.05588.07289.03988.56188.33988.21288.53688.45488.49988.73188.88188.83589.80189.07587.88387.97988.54195.026128.803112.056121.971145.394145.489126.10888.25187.39487.31886.91787.08387.67287.56987.36387.45387.09587.1587.22487.15387.05287.179127.418108.63387.18785.25385.14988.315
Sebastian Vettel92.86888.8288.66488.06788.31287.97688.13288.36188.27188.33988.1788.27888.18388.20688.07187.91388.18488.74888.28888.5191.463105.67786.87787.38687.36787.50587.54888.01187.65387.82288.23987.77587.74387.76987.92387.92588.05588.01287.80288.04887.7988.098110.825127.289148.914144.948154.423126.53888.23287.43987.12287.09587.43487.48287.35787.28387.37987.26587.19687.22187.07487.34486.77287.03887.35887.3487.54787.21188.01
Daniel Ricciardo99.19391.38290.33389.96289.52589.66389.59789.51689.42988.8388.88889.43388.40988.62588.71788.67988.92688.80489.21189.20992.192106.42888.34588.37889.09688.40788.41988.73289.69288.69688.92488.42888.10888.44488.28188.58788.38788.42988.7489.49388.85399.537127.62111.996112.519143.89138.742124.05290.22988.55286.96186.50886.62386.79486.7587.25887.11387.28987.01587.30587.11587.13787.01692.601113.29485.31585.01684.82186.611
Kimi Raikkonen94.289.08788.73188.25588.30988.16888.3788.25588.34188.4588.15388.23488.42688.05488.18788.1488.40388.64188.73888.54388.22991.501107.0886.95487.60787.92788.12288.29787.77187.92487.90587.97287.64588.53788.00888.23188.52688.29688.39888.79890.51191.911113.428130.119132.088145.322149.065126.6690.59989.05889.46693.032145.31389.70192.339
Valtteri Bottas97.28290.56489.79689.77489.57789.67189.79489.68289.74789.91789.67389.893.595109.7388.62288.91189.03588.82689.07490.71989.11689.09589.0489.05789.14589.32789.6289.3288.92789.27389.30889.11288.92789.31189.2189.28589.81591.918107.71989.10589.291108.122111.724111.64397.657129.246137.771123.432121.356115.08587.05887.87488.41488.8189.19688.23387.95888.16888.04887.43387.68387.98288.28488.81788.04687.99389.26987.85488.347
Daniil Kvyat98.48391.65690.10490.00389.58789.65889.60391.3489.9789.88890.61689.6292.71108.0998990.37789.45789.24989.09689.79989.37789.53689.74889.5589.65890.43690.04389.44189.75389.74589.35289.30691.945106.63886.9787.23687.56287.55689.90788.81189.036108.722110.93129.1798.502112.487136.826122.03691.17787.90988.08986.82487.31186.87986.76186.71186.51987.24387.58286.91786.71287.11387.28488.72787.36887.10187.45187.54487.917
Felipe Massa100.77591.85790.73490.31290.27890.1590.14490.12990.63191.13690.17290.40290.42493.041115.52990.46690.22589.9289.96690.17489.68790.30390.1189.88290.24590.56491.75191.70893.361107.2488.75788.3389.13489.12790.57390.12191.47989.68289.94389.81798.638109.661111.856127.878145.548120.24791.1590.53489.90789.98889.12489.53290.21793.557106.19587.71787.27287.2386.86487.28987.2287.02587.54387.90790.03588.61388.23389.14889.856
Max Verstappen103.08692.54790.74790.70890.09289.76589.65190.52590.11390.07690.44190.31490.29193.177107.19188.46988.87788.83189.73788.77489.6389.05489.35688.8889.13789.31389.23889.24289.42790.00289.50889.58589.62789.25889.33289.5792.121108.74288.73488.82288.777110.215110.752106.925101.804117.505139.424121.72494.46590.35188.98888.21588.5188.44688.46590.692100.69488.06388.1787.85587.67987.6587.65988.42187.74687.87387.90788.32988.942
Romain Grosjean105.37492.23191.45791.46789.46690.27890.12889.89790.44990.3690.90190.09390.07193.249108.01189.28288.99889.35889.6190.69590.73789.51690.26590.36988.95289.68189.6589.62989.21489.44989.7889.14489.6692.715114.69689.52688.78289.05689.28789.39196.383111.239129.439120.568145.347119.30990.94390.15389.79490.16988.99189.46890.19388.63188.40788.86589.28888.33888.11688.0888.21388.21288.11588.20288.19488.75989.52488.13988.61
Nico Hulkenberg98.76990.22290.12990.07389.92189.71689.5189.92189.97390.99789.8689.68789.7889.59992.257107.96289.03589.1888.85489.41889.49189.27789.88888.91689.19189.47189.58489.73289.28289.04789.31389.18589.0789.39689.20592.095106.63488.07489.62189.09389.146
Carlos Sainz Jnr102.13291.64490.99790.33690.22589.9990.38790.63890.20190.18690.45790.07190.40790.24292.126110.71488.85388.9789.39889.45290.23391.00589.01488.89888.97389.43289.32289.26390.05390.07489.62889.29289.51890.09889.76793.448108.75988.61189.53389.45389.922113.334112.017144.042144.973122.17191.98790.74889.3389.25589.24789.84689.09588.92290.93390.03292.292.09290.419104.05
Sergio Perez99.78391.89590.60590.35990.0890.07790.42390.0690.23890.05290.00990.69591.34489.62489.39192.509107.08788.638100.50889.25389.98490.84889.90389.91190.19489.94490.38289.89590.51794.463108.52688.79189.67790.01490.92990.11390.30290.95989.86789.82597.29128.053111.059119.008144.29129.49989.34892.07989.45888.64588.49988.96796.273
Pastor Maldonado103.74593.24291.67691.44191.66991.81490.61890.84890.62390.36890.62690.93790.26890.36391.191.09291.71890.30791.95991.34191.04291.55891.62194.876107.001107.75988.09287.98988.17588.62388.64688.45688.90388.96990.20791.79390.10389.47290.12791.06298.815131.122113.206112.419144.07118.67394.04492.32987.64387.35887.23487.89888.4590.60487.5288.01591.27892.779100.81787.74587.29887.1387.42487.68287.61588.52488.10188.97390.132
Fernando Alonso102.69292.13890.95690.62990.3991.25190.15390.36390.38189.76790.0990.07590.35590.292.306107.49389.34289.40789.38689.18190.53889.31689.35889.21989.3489.45489.43989.26990.00389.21789.4689.04389.60789.46289.30192.104107.80390.6689.50789.94789.589112.497112.333151.24144.712121.94391.29190.34789.03588.63389.03289.89689.20288.90989.11388.61788.67187.9788.17387.96587.55487.4987.71788.06788.6188.62587.31187.97687.944
Jenson Button103.46792.81391.39990.85990.55890.51290.00490.08290.46990.2490.58390.18590.3193.164107.16289.88389.31589.47489.53589.78389.87290.23290.44689.50889.6189.65189.52589.30389.21189.69989.88789.689.75989.81692.442107.24289.86389.88989.70189.67697.749107.745111.934140.596145.038122.08491.61590.78790.78189.52489.25189.55989.32188.99189.19189.49392.03589.31888.71488.67488.56888.61589.42488.87588.53588.82689.27888.90188.862
Marcus Ericsson105.58192.86591.76991.20390.76390.04990.4390.28490.4390.33890.39590.05890.10190.2789.91393.119109.22890.13689.97890.21589.9990.09590.28789.81890.07290.34589.58489.87389.90890.20590.11389.63893.569110.13689.95189.98690.49689.82191.48389.961101.213126.78113.783113.584144.213117.37193.89493.91988.63988.39588.08788.70288.1888.4788.05688.51188.64689.46888.72588.00488.34289.28588.50388.78288.77389.32188.83288.89489.287
Felipe Nasr105.92593.19992.3490.96190.8390.82690.96790.70490.50590.69190.79290.57690.46494.109107.37588.31889.97989.54489.56189.95289.90190.2390.34690.05490.09190.15390.96889.61889.73589.75390.57492.743111.07189.72289.96789.65292.78590.1990.64189.94101.049110.889128.078113.801144.053116.58193.83993.54189.4588.53888.26888.61288.75388.82488.30588.29388.37888.65689.17388.63888.63988.31188.60689.17689.31289.54589.17389.36989.841
Roberto Merhi105.44294.70392.9792.62793.62595.672115.63893.64593.69492.19791.64294.90291.83992.60891.36592.25891.56293.40391.79992.44791.6791.88391.72393.84192.16992.14794.05792.25293.95795.136112.92993.10191.86992.28195.19498.48392.22793.7192.28101.35112.578129.214103.997143.884115.60593.78492.84893.05990.59690.36590.84390.86290.87690.96991.47990.13290.72490.37789.86891.21392.8691.41190.85890.79490.39390.40391.768
Will Stevens107.03595.1493.35592.84192.69993.30992.81392.54492.64792.67292.74792.56692.54692.53392.6993.28493.88693.65794.592.44493.61594.3193.95692.59492.34996.144112.13791.00593.71693.93692.12991.66493.1792.9291.94792.48893.23391.77292.97798.223111.972130.198119.538145.072121.23193.95294.68895.48392.40392.04292.13993.61293.5895.434111.14289.54390.31890.17990.24689.83890.04491.87990.35793.98115.511

2015 Hungarian Grand Prix fastest laps

Each driver’s fastest lap:

RankDriverCarFastest lapGapOn lap
1Daniel RicciardoRed Bull-Renault1’24.82168
2Nico RosbergMercedes1’25.1490.32868
3Lewis HamiltonMercedes1’25.7270.90668
4Daniil KvyatRed Bull-Renault1’26.5191.69857
5Sebastian VettelFerrari1’26.7721.95163
6Felipe MassaWilliams-Mercedes1’26.8642.04359
7Kimi RaikkonenFerrari1’26.9542.13324
8Valtteri BottasWilliams-Mercedes1’27.0582.23751
9Pastor MaldonadoLotus-Mercedes1’27.1302.30962
10Fernando AlonsoMcLaren-Honda1’27.3112.49067
11Max VerstappenToro Rosso-Renault1’27.6502.82962
12Marcus EricssonSauber-Ferrari1’28.0043.18360
13Nico HulkenbergForce India-Mercedes1’28.0743.25338
14Romain GrosjeanLotus-Mercedes1’28.0803.25960
15Felipe NasrSauber-Ferrari1’28.2683.44751
16Sergio PerezForce India-Mercedes1’28.4993.67851
17Jenson ButtonMcLaren-Honda1’28.5353.71465
18Carlos Sainz JnrToro Rosso-Renault1’28.6113.79038
19Will StevensManor-Ferrari1’29.5434.72256
20Roberto MerhiManor-Ferrari1’29.8685.04759

2015 Hungarian Grand Prix

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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9 comments on “Fast starts help Ferrari unlock soft tyre pace for win”

  1. poor kimi
    having acted as a perfect rear gunner for Sebastian suffered an MGU-K fail
    he’s had alot of bad luck this year

    1. he was lucky and competitive on his first season with Lotus (2012). since then his luck seems to have ran out..I hope he’ll have a much better 2nd half of the season, beginning at his favourite Spa circuit.

      1. Think you need to look at the definition of the term ‘luck’. Kimi wasn’t lucky in 2012/13. He was brilliant. He swamped Grosjean and won the team battle even when he didn’t race for the last couple of races.

        1. @evered7

          He was not brilliant it is well known how quick lotus where and easy on there tyres Alo would have won the title in 1 of them years. Well faster than his Ferrari in race pace. I mean Kimi has been beaten soundly by 2 WC, i can guarantee if Kimi and a driver like Gro wwere the best of the rest at times and challenging Red Bull at Suzuka Alo would have won many races.

          1. So if a competitor is fast in a car, it is because of the car. But if our favorite driver does it, its because he was down pedalling it like the Flintstones?

            The TPs know how fast the car was and what their advantages were. If you have proof that the car was capable of more and Kimi underachieved, please provide it. Facts and not opinions count here.

            The reason Alonso didn’t win any championships at Ferrari was purely down to him. He had plenty of chances to close the deal but individual mistakes led to his downfall. Easy to blame the team for Abu Dhabi while ignoring his mistakes in Monaco, China. Similar case with his crash in Suzuka and underperformance in USA.

  2. wow 5 years since a ferrari 1-2!

  3. Vettel managed an incredibly consistent pace throughout the race. Just doing what he does best: leading a race from the front.

  4. Ham clearly had the pace, makes me laugh people yesterday saying Ham was like avg like Catalunya and Austria he had a bad race but was quicker than anyone unlike Austria and Catalunya. Remember Ros could not even stick with Ferrari he was so slow. If Ham kept 1st place he runs away with it and probably gets even more than 7 points. This was like Monaco for Ham best and quickest yet made mistakes. Ros was embarassing.

    1. It was pretty underwhelming and worse than Spain or Austria imo. He was not faster than Vettel in clean air which is pretty shocking considering he definitely had the faster car. The fact that he made a couple of faster laps with better tyres in clean air doesn’t change the fact that he wasn’t really closing down the gap as he should have.
      Rosberg wasn’t comfortable with the car all weekend, but didn’t make any mistake until he misjudged the situation with Ricciardo, which was a racing incident. Next time Hamilton’s uncomfortable with setup and complains you would make sure to mention it’s not entirely his fault…

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