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Hungarian Formula 1 GP: the strategy of the King and the poison of the Snake

The Hungarian Formula 1 GP can be considered very near to Monaco from a technical point of view. No overtakes, boring races, trains of drivers... but even if this GP will not be remembered in the future as the most exiting one, it gives us something if we look at the challenge between the "Red Snake" Jarbas and the "King" Novikov.

Jarbas (Ferrari) starts from the pole, Novikov (McLaren) next to him. As we said, no possible overtakes. So... if you were Novikov what would be your startegy? Novikov in all his F1 seasons has been an example of tremendous talent in strategic decisions, and also this time he does not disappoint his fans.

Novikov strategy seems to be:

1) to start for the first stint with the same fuel level of Jarbas;
2) in the first stop to take on less fuel to reduce pit time and to overtake Jarbas;
3) taking advantage with a lighter car in the second stint to avoid the overcut of Jarbas in the second pit;
4) run to the end taking the victory.

Novikov is usual to creates something to break the technical extremization of Formula 1. This is his personal challenge from his first year in Formula 1. Doing something different to be different. This is the reason why he took three titles in a row. This is the reason why he is the "King". This is the reason why he would like to have new rules in Formula 1 in order to have more strategic options.

But this time he cannot break the rules. In the first position there's another driver with another race philosophy.

Jarbas does not try to do different things. He uses standard approaches optimizing at the highest level heach detail. He is one of the most consistent driver in race mode I have ever seen, and this is why I decided I would have taken him in my team till he was only 20 years old.

Jarbas pace is really fast in the first stint and he takes 3 seconds to his rival. Novikov, even with a creative and well set strategy, is not able to pass the Red Snake in the first pit and all games are closed.

Jarbas ends in first position with 7 seconds on Novikov and more than 25 on the rest of the group.

As in Red Bull Ring win, Jarbas, the "Red Snake", has killed the race with the deadliest of poisons, his speed.

"Jarbas knew that Novikov would have tried something special" said Ferrari Head Engeneer Del Ragno "Look only in front of you, was my suggestion, and be fast, this is all we need".