AT&T Williams F1 - Hungaroring review

1 H Kovalainen McLaren Mercedes 1:37:27:067 (1:21.753, 7th)2

2 T Glock Toyota +11.061 (1:21.671, 6th) 5

3 K Raikkonen Ferrari +16.856 (1:21.195, 1st)

6 13 K NAKAJIMA FW30-04 H336 AT&T WILLIAMS +1 lap (1:23.307, 18th) 16

14 N ROSBERG FW30-05 H355 AT&T WILLIAMS +1 lap (1:22.397, 12th) 14 

Altogether a trying weekend for AT&T Williams at the Hungarian Grand Prix with neither driver able to collect points. From the outset, the team struggled for pace at the Hungaroring. Coupled with a mechanical problem for Nico in qualifying and weak starts on both cars, Rosberg and Nakajima were on the back foot going into a Grand Prix on a circuit renowned for its limited overtaking opportunities.

Nico finished the race where he started in P14, despite losing time in the pits following a problem with his fuel rig. Kazuki’s afternoon was no less difficult, but was somewhat alleviated by a change to his strategy mid-race, which helped put him in 13th place at the chequered flag.

Kazuki Nakajima:

Obviously it was a very difficult race for us. We converted my strategy to a one stopper, which was the right thing to do, so thanks to the team for that. After that though, I was running heavy and struggling on the option tyres so had to fight for pace.

I then made contact with Fisichella and lost a position. Fortunately, I was able to regain it when he had to make his final stop. That was all we could do today so we need to look into what happened and try to improve for the next race.

Nico Rosberg:

My first lap wasn’t great. I was in the wrong place and lost a few positions. Then, during my first pit-stop, something went wrong with the fuel rig which cost me a couple of decisive seconds and put me behind Fisichella.

My strategy was over then. In terms of the heat I didn’t have a problem with it; we’ve definitely had worse races this year.

Sam Michael, Technical Director:

Being a track like Budapest, it’s extremely difficult to overtake, especially when everyone gets stacked up behind one another. We didn’t have a good first lap, with both cars losing positions. We also had a problem with the fuel rig on Nico’s car, which dropped him behind Kazuki, whose strategy we had changed.

Difficult race, but we’ll look forward to the next one. During the break before the next couple of Grands Prix, even though we’re in a balancing act of developing the 2009 car with improving this year’s car, we’ll still be working hard on the FW30 in order to make progress in the remaining races.

Championship Position: Rosberg 8pts, (13th), Nakajima 8pts (14th), AT&T Williams 16pts (7th

- Liam Clogger, Claire Williams, Sylvia Hofer -