The 2024 Hungarian GP just did a 2023 Brazilian GP where showers and thunderstorms appeared literally out of thin air. The weather for the upcoming race weekend in Budapest was expected to be blistering hot, but the rain gods ended up showering more rain than the track could handle. The media day will soon be underway and half the track is still waterlogged.
The Hungaroring and nearby areas have been going through a dry, hot period with minimal rain expected over this weekend. Temperatures in the mid to high 30 degrees Celsius range were expected for the weekend. However, a thunderstorm hit the track taking everyone in the paddock by surprise and causing some damage as well.
Ta pouco alagado graças a Deus
: @F1mech pic.twitter.com/MTShyf7yd9
— Portal RBR Brasil (@BRredbullracing) July 17, 2024
Videos from Budapest have surfaced showing the highest points on the track under what looks like 6 inches of water. The ambient temperature is expected to drop by a couple of degrees daily until the race weekend. However, waterlogging isn’t the only issue caused by the rain.
According to an update from Kym Illman on his Instagram, McLaren’s hospitality motorhome suffered major damage. This is the same motorhome that caught fire at the Spanish GP. This time around, strong winds ripped apart the roof of the motorhome.
However, employees on track were trying to make the best of the conditions. There were videos of team members dancing in the rain. Red Bull engineer Taylor Smith posted an Instagram story showing him carrying cups of tea in his shoes as he splashed around the paddock in his socks.
Hail and thunderstorm but tea is the priority
[taylorsmith301 Instagram story] #F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/dO0BNdzskQ
— RBR News (@redbulletin) July 17, 2024
The flooded track also appears to have opened the floodgates of imagination of F1 enthusiasts.
Fans come up with hilarious suggestions for using the wet conditions
As a result of the waterlogging, many fans suggested that all teams should bring out their speedboats for the Grand Prix.
Fuck it. Let’s race https://t.co/9hTBupK8Zy pic.twitter.com/RpJ1VO5pb6
— Mahir (@ScrewderiaF1) July 17, 2024
lol, let’s turn it into a motorboat race
— Lina (@Lina12_Brown) July 17, 2024
Someone recalled the Canadian GP Charles Leclerc incident where the Monegasque was sent out on dry tires on what seemed a wet track. However, FIA hadn’t declared the track as damp and that caused a controversy as well.
FIA: it’s not wet until “we” say it is wet, how dare you!
— CMpaugh (@CMpaugh) July 17, 2024
Hopefully, race day will not see more rain and we will not see a repeat of Belgium 2021, when the race was forced to be called off.
