Preview - Hungarian Grand Prix 2002.

Formula One has just enjoyed its mid-season summer break with no races or testing for the past three weeks. Now fresh from their rest and relaxation everyone assembles in Hungary for the only Eastern European race on the calendar.

Everyone that is, except for Arrows. Ongoing legal issues have prevented the team from even making a token appearance in Hungary as it had done in France. The team was down to one driver with the departure of Heinz Harald Frentzen and no announcement as to who might have replaced him had the team turned up.

Another absence in Hungary will be Malaysian driver Alex Yoong, who has been stood down for two races at Minardi and is replaced by Brit Anthony Davidson. Davidson and everyone else will be wondering if Hungary is the venue for Michael Schumacher to notch up yet another record, for if he wins at Hungary he will have beaten the record he holds with Nigel Mansell of nine wins in a season.

The Hungarian track is the shortest on the F1 calendar, save for the unique experience that is Monaco, and the track shares many characteristics with the Monte Carlo circuit, not least the difficulty of overtaking. Niki Lauda, former champion and boss of the beleaguered Jaguar concern describes the circuit: ''This is a difficult circuit for the teams. The dirty track is very hard on the car and especially challenging on the tyres. The drivers are under a lot of pressure throughout the race because of the lack of straights. There are just so many corners and this makes it a hard task to overtake. The slow corners coupled with the heat provide a challenge just to stay on the circuit and this really tests the fitness of the driver.''

Each lap is 2.470 laps long and 77 will be covered during the course of the race. The circuit itself sees very little other use during the year so will start the race weekend very dusty and 'green'. This means that grip levels will change significantly and present a challenge to the teams for tyre decisions and car set-up.

Ferrari are undeniably the strongest team this year with 141 points and the drivers' championship already wrapped up. Their avowed aim is to back Rubens Barrichello for second in the championship, and for the rest of the season the Brazilian has the T car at his disposal; based on his reliability record thus far this season he's likely to need it. It is unlikely, however, that we'll see Michael Schumacher simply sit back and hand the advantage to Rubens, but some real racing between the pair should certainly be good to watch.

With only one real overtaking opportunity at the track - at the end of the pit straight - overtaking is difficult at the circuit and the Michelin-shod cars could be at an advantage in this respect, especially in the hands of five-poles-in-a-row man Montoya. Though the Colombian lost the initiative at Hockenheim expect Juan to be the man to watch in qualifying once more. His Williams team-mate Ralf Schumacher was certainly back on the boil in Germany so a more even battle between the Williams duo could be on the cards.

For anyone that gets on pole ahead of the Ferraris there'll be a tough battle. Ferrari's Bridgestone rubber is in most situations the better race tyre and, with the drivers' championship out of the way, the team that's probably the best at strategy has some leeway top experiment. ''It is definitely a circuit that can repay you with the right moves at the right time and, with no championship to worry about now, we can perhaps afford to be a bit more adventurous,'' explains master strategist Ross Brawn.

Williams have 76 points to Ferrari's 141 this year and are, in all likelihood, going to be the team pushing Ferrari closest to the end of the season. Ralf Schumacher explains the motivation for the rest of the season. ''The motivation is not so much about winning second place in the Drivers' Championship behind my brother Michael," he said. "But about our intention to catch up with Ferrari before the end of the season. If we don't manage to achieve this, it will make next season very difficult.''

''Budapest will indicate how strong we could be in the future. Personally, I enjoy the Hungaroring track because you've got to work so hard in the car, which is in many ways similar to Monaco. This puts the emphasis on my personal fitness, as much as the car's reliability.''

Over at McLaren they have 49 points thus far and this year's package is not where they'd want it to be. David Coulthard has notched up nearly twice the points that his young Finnish companion has, but Kimi has outqualified Coulthard eights times to four and also has been putting in storming race drives. However, DC did score the race victory this year at Monaco, the track most akin to Hungary, so don't discount the Scot or the McLaren team.

Renault didn't have a great race at Hockenheim and currently stand with 15 points in the championship. Jarno Trulli did come fourth in Monaco however so the Renault could be well placed for a good showing this weekend. Despite the short length a lap at Hungary and the lack of high speed corners Trulli still rates the circuit as a challenge: ''It is one of the toughest races of the season. The track is always slippery, and the corners follow quickly one after the other," Trulli said. "This is definitely a hard race for the drivers, and the high temperatures mean we need to be well prepared physically. I've been training a lot since the last race, and I feel in good shape for the weekend.''

Next up, points wise, is Sauber with a grand total of eleven points. Peter Sauber has been voicing his displeasure about young drivers of late and young gun Felipe Massa has been spectacular but crash heavy so far this season. Team-mate Nick Heidfeld can no longer be considered as one of the younger driver as he's been around the F1 paddock for rather longer than you might think, and Sauber certainly favoured Heidfeld at Hockenheim, where Massa has to concede position for the German. Positions won't be made so easily at Hungary as Heidfeld admits ''The Hungaroring is quite a challenging track because you always have to be on the lookout during the race for the moment any overtaking opportunity presents itself. You don't get many chances there!''

''It's a tricky place, with tight corners. I have always been quick there, in F3000 and in F1. Last year I came sixth with the Sauber Petronas C20, and that was a tough but very satisfying point to score. I hope for something similar this year.''

For Massa as well as learning the track by more conventional means there's time for some aerobatics as well: ''I have never been to Hungary and I am planning to start my visit by flying over the city of Budapest with Peter Barney, the world and European aerobatic flying champion who is Hungarian,'' noted Mass. ''Our team partner Red Bull has offered me the chance to fly with him in his EXTRA 330 plane. I can't wait landing in Tool. It's a wonderful way to discover a city! I will also meet Hungarian F3000 driver Slot Baumgartner.''

Jordan have six points this far and their performance certainly improved at Hockenheim. Giancarlo Fisichella took advantage of extra Honda power to put the car sixth on the grid for the race and Takuma Sato drove his best race of the season to come home in eighth at the end of the race. Either Jordan could well throw up a surprise at Budapest.

BAR also have been enjoying the extra Honda power of late and need to bolster their meagre 5 points. Jenson Button is headed to the team next year and it still hasn't been confirmed who will be partnering him so watch for some strong performances from both BAR drivers. Jacques Villeneuve may yet still be headed to CART next year so it could be that the Canadian will go slightly off the boil if he knows himself to be headed to pastures anew for the next season.

Sole Cosworth powered contenders at Hungary, Jaguar have a mere three points this season and their performance in Hockenheim showed the car is still far from being considered a great race car. Still no word on drivers for next year though Eddie Irvine has been even talking of considering taking a test role should it come to it. Don't expect great things from Irvine or de la Rosa, but they do have the Michelin tyres so a good qualifying performance might happen.

It's all change at Minardi with three-time non-qualifier Alex Yoong being given two races break to regain his confidence. BAR test driver Anthony Davidson takes the seat and will face a struggle in a car he hasn't driven, on different tyres to those he has tested on and at a track he's never driven. To add to this he's up against highly rated Mark Webber. If he does well everybody will be paying attention. Realising the challenge ahead his aspirations are not too high. ''This is a fantastic opportunity, as Formula One is something I've been dreaming about since I was a child,'' comments Davidson. ''I want to do a professional job for Paul Stoddart and the KL Minardi Asiatech team in Hungary, and my primary target is to qualify for the race. If I can do that in my first Grand Prix, I will be more than happy. ''I've not been to the Hungaroring before, so this will be a new experience for me. I love learning new circuits, though, as it's all part of the challenge of motor racing.''

Don't expect great things from two pointers Toyota. The Japanese team are making the most of their first season and have probably reached the level of the car. Initially it was reliable but slow. Then it became quicker and less reliable. Both drivers will be pushing hard nonetheless with seemingly both their positions up for grabs next year. Like everyone Mika Salo appreciates the need for a good qualifying performance and the Finn will undoubtedly be pushing hard, as he was outqualified for the first time at the last race by team-mate Allan McNish. ''The Hungaroring is a difficult circuit. It's like Monaco, but without the barriers to punish you if you make a mistake," Salo says "It's very slow and has no overtaking opportunities, which means that the most important lap I will do during the weekend will be in qualifying because a good grid position is everything. The TF102 went well at Monaco, so on paper it might go well here too, but I don't want to make too many predictions.''

With Arrows slipping into the shadows and staying away from the race, not even turning up for a single qualifying run as in France, that's it for the grid in Hungary. Arrows situation is certainly not good for the sport and Heinz Harald Frentzen has already jumped ship. Craig Pollock has confirmed he has put in an offer but difficulties with the current backers still persist.

So, the break is over, get ready for the final five races of the season.