The Hungaroring's lap record could be in sight and even beaten this weekend thanks to a new track surface laid earlier this year which has smoothened out some of the bumps whilst also contributing to a grippier surface.
According to Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli following an inspection, the changes, which also include new kerbs, "should culminate in faster lap times" this weekend.
The current lap record of 1:18.436 set by Rubens Barrichello in 2004 is several seconds quicker than Lewis Hamilton's pole lap from last year, a 1:22.020.
However with the 2016 cars already proving to be much quicker than last year's cars, combined with the new surface and kerbs, it's expected they will easily dip below the 1:20 mark and possibly into the 1:18 bracket if conditions prove ideal.
"The track has been completely resurfaced, and we saw in Austria that this had quite a profound influence as well: we will need to see if this is case in Hungary too, so free practice will be very important," commented Pirelli's Paul Hembery.
"The track has been entirely resurfaced and the circuit infrastructure upgraded this year," added Pirelli. "There is also some new kerbing and run-off areas while the effect of the resurfacing has additionally been to smooth out some of the bumps. This should culminate in faster lap times."
The first series to race on the newly resurfaced track was the World Touring Car Championship, with Jose Maria Lopez recording a pole time of 1:46.109, more than two seconds quicker than Yvan Muller's 1:48.848 from last year.
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