F1 teams torn over strategy for 2025 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix

With the weather forecast for the Hungarian Grand Prix now heading more towards a dry race , with only a 20% chance of rain, the teams and drivers face a dilemma. The over-riding question for the strategists will be whether to plan for a two-stop or one-stop strategy as the Hungaroring lends itself to both over the 70-lap duration. F1 tyre supplier Pirelli has indicated that the leading option is for a two-stop, ideally starting on the medium compound and running through to laps 16-22, before a double stint on the hard rubber, sandwiched by a second stop on laps 40 to 46. The major alternative is for the one-stop, again starting on the medium but running longer in the first stint, to laps 25 to 31, before switching to the hards through to the chequered flag. Naturally, the other two-stop options dictate starting on the soft rubber through to laps eight to 14. The first sees a switch to the medium and stopping again around laps 32 to 38 before taking on the hard rubber; the second again indicates second and third stints on the hard, split by a stop on laps 38 to 44. If the rain does stay away, it promises to be a fascinating strategic game for the teams for a race that will be led away by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc from pole position following his shock defeat of McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in qualifying. Mercedes' George Russell starts from fourth ahead of Aston Martin duo Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, who last week started on the back row of the grid for the Belgian Grand Prix. Red Bull's Max Verstappen lines up eighth after bemoaning the performance of his RB21, which he claimed after qualifying has "no grip". For now, his wish for no rain may yet come true. If a sprinkling of rain does fall, however, that will only add to the strategic variables that will come into play.