15/08/2004

Grand Prix of Hungary - Race Report

Olivier Panis finished 11th for Panasonic Toyota Racing in the Hungarian Grand Prix at Budapest after a race made all the more difficult by a disappointing qualifying session in which 13th was the best that the Frenchman could achieve.

"Apart from Monte Carlo Hungary is the most difficult track for overtaking on the whole calendar the Frenchman said. We were disappointed and surprised at the lack of qualifying performance after going well in free practice and there was little I could do to make up the lost ground. I made a good start almost got alongside Mark Webber but then had to back off."

Panis was further delayed by a first corner incident that involved team mate Ricardo Zonta spinning after being hit by Giorgio Pantano's Jordan Ford. Panis completed the opening lap in 15th place while Zonta was last by the time he regained the circuit. The Brazilian having his first race for the team after replacing Cristiano da Matta ultimately retired after 32 laps with electronic problems.

"I am naturally disappointed with the result said Zonta. I got a good start and made up a few positions on the run down to the first corner. Things got very tight through turn 1 and I was hit from behind by a Jordan which sent me into a spin and to the back of the field. I then had a lot of overtaking to do something that is very difficult at this track. In the end I was making progress but the car suddenly lost all power and I had to stop. The problem appears to have been caused by electronics but we must first study all the data to be precise. I have settled into my new role as race driver quite easily thanks to the team and I am looking forward to a much stronger performance in Spa."

The race produced the seventh 1-2 finish of the season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro clinching a record sixth successive constructor's championship in the process. Michael Schumacher took his 12th win in 13 races ahead of team mate Rubens Barrichello. Fernando Alonso was third for the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya's BMW Williams and the Lucky Strike BAR Hondas of Jenson Button and Takuma Sato. Antonio Pizzonia's BMW Williams and the Sauber Petronas of Giancarlo Fisichella claimed the final points.

Technical Director Chassis Mike Gascoyne said: "I think this weekend was probably one of the most consistent in the team's history in terms of the way in which everyone worked. The pace as at Hockenheim was there in the free practice sessions but we were let down by the qualifying performance where we went backwards by half a second compared to the other Michelin runners. The knock-on effect of that was to put us back into the pack where the first lap is often hectic and we paid the price.

"Both drivers made good starts but then there was the incident with Pantano. Olivier once he got into clean air showed that he could run a good pace. He then got blue flags at a time when he was running at the same pace as Montoya and Button and effectively had to wait for them. If we could have run his last two stints first we'd have been in a lot better shape!"

The F1 circus now moves to two of the fastest circuits on the schedule Spa at the end of this month and Monza in September. The tracks should prove better-suited to the TF104B and allow the car to fully utilise its strong engine performance.

Off-track Panasonic Toyota Racing was visited by Swiss hot ait balloonist Bertrand Piccard the first man to pilot a balloon around the world. He took the chance to visit the Toyota garage and to sit inside the TF104B. Also seen at the team motorhome was footballer Roberto Carlos who was a guest of Bernie Ecclestone at the Hungaroring.