Budapest (AFP)

Those and what to watch for at the Hungarian Grand Prix, third round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on the Hungaroring in Budapest from Friday to Sunday, always behind closed doors:

. The new balance of Lando Norris

He knows "you shouldn't catch fire after only two races" but what races, all the same! The youngest of the grid, Lando Norris (20), started his second season in F1 with his very first podium (3rd) a fortnight ago in Austria. The following week, still on the Red Bull Ring at Spielberg, the Briton from McLaren placed fifth after a fantastic comeback from eighth place in the last two laps, despite chest pains which handicapped him all week weekend. This new balance in racing at one of the troublemakers in the paddock is definitely promising!

. The promises of George Russell

George Russell, 22, is also one of the hopes of the paddock but, at the wheel since last year of a Williams in cruel lack of rhythm, it is more difficult to be noticed ... His performance during the qualifying of the GP from Styria on Saturday is all the more remarkable. In the rain, the Briton managed to hoist Williams into the top 15 (12th) for the first time since Brazil 2018. His GP was less brilliant, with an exit from the track and a car still "too slow", but the promises are there for Russell, who still has to score his first point in F1.

. Reliability of Renault

"Showing where we really deserve to be in the standings" is the goal that the Australian Daniel Ricciardo has set for his team, Renault, this weekend. The car from the French manufacturer proved competitive during the first two GP of the season in Austria, particularly in qualifying, but it was victim in the race of cooling problems which led Ricciardo first, then his French team-mate Esteban Ocon the following week, abandoned. This year even more, in a very dense midfield behind Mercedes and Red Bull, reliability will be key.

. The consequences of the claim against Racing Point

At the end of the Styria GP last Sunday, Renaut lodged a claim against Racing Point. In question, the resemblance between the car of the British team this year and that of the Mercedes titled last year. Racing Point claims to have used only photos. Renault, but also other teams, doubt it. "We decide to file a complaint because we have suspicions that there have been exchanges of data and designs between these two teams", explains to AFP the executive director of the French team, Marcin Budkowski. "These exchanges may be legal depending on their date and how they took place (Mercedes being the engine manufacturer of Racing Point, editor's note), but what is disputed is the fact that Racing Point uses this data on the car of this year." The complaint in question relates to the brake scoops of the pink single-seater because they have external but also internal surfaces of which it appears more complicated to obtain photos. The team in question, as well as Mercedes, must now provide elements of response to this complaint to an expert from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) who will report on which the race stewards will base their decision. decision in the coming weeks.

. Weather

Usually hot, with risk of thunderstorms, the GP of Hungary promises to be rainy and cool this year, with temperatures closer to 20 degrees than 30. The cooling of single-seaters should therefore be less problematic but it will potentially have to deal with the rain which had already complicated the qualifications of the GP of Styria on Saturday.

© 2020 AFP