Mark Hughes

Formula 1

How Russell’s Turn 1 struggle highlighted Hamilton’s value

The one element of the Mercedes Formula 1 car’s behaviour George Russell couldn’t get his head around related to its biggest performance gain of 2020 – and it was a development that showed Lewis Hamilton’s huge technical influence

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The factors that created a sensational random win

An extraordinary drive, quirks of the circuit and an enforced strategy switch added up to put Sergio Perez on the top step of the Sakhir Grand Prix podium. That and two pieces of heartbreak for George Russell. Mark Hughes explains how it all happened

Formula 1

Why Red Bull’s freeze request could define F1’s whole future

The battleground over the future shape of Formula 1’s regulations has fully erupted, and it’s Red Bull’s seemingly innocuous request for an engine freeze that’s triggered it

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Outer’s not an oval, but it needs oval tactics

The very short lap, traffic concerns and high tyre deg are going to combine to cause headaches in the Sakhir Grand Prix. Mark Hughes explains all, and assesses the Friday pace

Formula 1

Billionaires’ sons only? Mark Hughes on money and talent in F1

Three drivers on the 2021 Formula 1 grid come from extraordinarily wealthy backgrounds. Yet all three also have strong racing CVs. Ayrton Senna wasn’t short of money. Yet F1’s most recent legends came from humble origins. Mark Hughes looks at the complex issue of money vs talent in F1

Formula 1

Mark Hughes explains F1’s miracle and the race it overshadowed

After 26 seconds of terror as Romain Grosjean’s crash unfolded, Formula 1 regrouped to produce a tense Bahrain Grand Prix. Here’s Mark Hughes’ in-depth analysis of both the accident and the race that followed

Formula 1

How Bahrain joust set tone for era of fractious domination

The 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix proved Formula 1’s hybrid era could be exciting. It also proved how dominant Mercedes was, and how messy the Lewis Hamilton/Nico Rosberg relationship could get

Formula 1

What are Red Bull’s ‘weaknesses we can’t fix’ until 2021?

With Mercedes’ 2020 development ceasing, Red Bull has hoped it can get within striking distance – but Max Verstappen believes there’s a limit to what the RB16 can do

Formula 1

From pole to 13th for Stroll – but which result was the blip?

Lance Stroll’s 13th place in Bahrain qualifying is a major climbdown from his Istanbul pole – but it isn’t necessarily a return to poor form

Formula 1

Why Perez was the sensation of Bahrain Friday

There were strong hints that Max Verstappen is closing on Mercedes in Bahrain Friday practice, but the man with most to smile about was Racing Point’s Sergio Perez

Formula 1

The mysterious loss of Hamilton’s first F1 title

Lewis Hamilton would be an eight-time Formula 1 world champion by now but for a strange end to the controversy-packed 2007 season that’s never been fully explained. Mark Hughes looks back at what happened

Formula 1

How Hamilton has transformed himself since leaving McLaren

From being just the gifted apprentice in a colossus of a McLaren team to a record-breaker at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton has come a long way lately. Mark Hughes got Hamilton’s own take on his evolution in an in-depth interview

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The science that made Hamilton’s win inevitable

There were times during the Turkish Grand Prix when Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes was 5s slower than the opposition. Yet there was always evidence that he was set for victory if he just stuck to a plan and let the race come to him

Formula 1

How Verstappen fell victim to crucial Red Bull weakness

Max Verstappen’s dominance of the Turkish Grand Prix practice sessions meant he looked guaranteed for pole, but then a crucial weakness for the RB16 was exposed at the worst possible time – resulting in an unlikely star performer on pole

Formula 1

Who was really fastest on strange Istanbul Friday?

Can any conclusions be drawn from the grip-less slow laps of Turkish Grand Prix Friday practice? Yes, reckons Mark Hughes. Here’s his in-depth analysis of the pace so far, including encouraging signs for Alex Albon

Formula 1

What Istanbul’s monster corner will tell us about modern F1

Current Formula 1 cars are devouring corners that used to be a huge driving challenge. What does that mean for Istanbul’s legendary Turn 8? Mark Hughes explains why it’ll still be extremely stressful for teams and drivers

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: How F1 should tackle human rights question

Mark Hughes explains why F1 isn’t qualified to make judgement calls on which countries do and do not have an acceptable human rights record, and how that issue could be circumvented

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The luck and skill behind an unlikely Hamilton win

Things fell right for Lewis Hamilton on Formula 1’s return to Imola, but he clinically pressed home the good fortune with his usual blend of savage speed and silky tyre usage

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Long run data hints at another Italy F1 shock

One of Red Bull’s two F1 teams looked a match for Mercedes in Imola practice long runs – and it wasn’t the one you’re thinking of

Formula 1

How weaker drivers skew perceptions of F1 teams

Talk of a driver salary cap in Formula 1 raises questions over how much difference a star signing really makes. Mark Hughes suggests how different F1 2020 would look if teams were relying on their slower drivers

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The complex puzzle that decided the Portuguese GP

The Portuguese GP was more of an intricate puzzle than a conventional Formula 1 race – and it was one Lewis Hamilton solved to perfection

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The elite F1 club Hamilton has now joined

As Lewis Hamilton breaks Formula 1’s all-time win record, Mark Hughes explains exactly what made every past record holder so good, and how their opposition compared

Formula 1

The F1 lap of the season contender that flattered its car

Mark Hughes details the stunning qualifying lap from Charles Leclerc at the Portuguese Grand Prix that was the perfect mix of “ballsy” and “delicate” in a difficult Ferrari

Formula 1

Has Racing Point really been surpassed by Renault?

Though Racing Point is still third in the constructors’ championship, Renault’s surge makes its position seem precarious. But is it really? Mark Hughes takes a look at form, fortune and the effect of upgrades

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Hamilton escaped Eifel GP’s potential randomness

Ultimately, the cold Eifel Grand Prix wasn’t as random as it threatened to be – performance rather than chance continued to hold sway and so Lewis Hamilton took that Schumacher-equalling victory

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: How ‘cat and mouse’ Eifel GP battle will be won

No Friday running has thrown everyone into the Eifel Grand Prix battle without the security blanket of data into what is likely to be one of the coldest Formula 1 races in history. Mark Hughes looks at what we can ascertain about how it might unfold

Formula 1

Who could take on Honda engine development for Red Bull?

If Honda lets Red Bull take on its engine technology, who might Red Bull enlist to develop it? Mark Hughes looks at the companies with that capability – some of which have huge F1 history

Formula 1

The future tech Honda seeks isn’t what F1 needs

With Honda leaving Formula 1 to focus on renewable energy technology, is F1 missing a trick by not heading more wholeheartedly in that direction too? No, says Mark Hughes, the green tech’s not ready for F1 and F1 needs to let go of its manufacturer obsession

Formula 1

When Honda last quit F1 – and what’s different now

It’s nearly 12 years since Honda last rocked F1 with a sudden withdrawal announcement. But the reasons for its latest exit are very different to dropping its unsuccessful 2008 team mid-crisis, as Mark Hughes explains

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The tense Russian GP battle we should’ve had

What would’ve happened in the Russian Grand Prix if Lewis Hamilton hadn’t been penalised? It wouldn’t have been as straightforward as you might think

Formula 1

The tantalising consequence of Hamilton’s predicament

Lewis Hamilton flirting with disaster in Q2 was great entertainment – but it also leaves Mercedes facing a genuine headache for the Russian GP

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Mercedes facing Ferrari 2019 dilemma at Sochi

Friday pace hints at a particularly smooth Russian GP for Mercedes – but, much like Ferrari in 2019, it will need to think hard about the start

Formula 1

Bottas’s chance to interrupt the relentless pummelling

Mark Hughes looks at why Valtteri Bottas is so strong at Sochi, and how it could help relieve the pressure on him which is mounting through 2020

Formula 1

Does Ferrari have any hope of a recovery before 2022?

Do Formula 1’s development restrictions mean Ferrari’s locked in to its current miserable state until 2022? Mark Hughes looks at exactly where the team is losing out, and what hope it might have of regaining ground within what the rules allow

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: How normality emerged from Mugello’s chaos

Crazy crashes, two red flags, major tyre surprises, apparent Valtteri Bottas superiority and Red Bull closer to Mercedes than ever – but another Lewis Hamilton win. Mark Hughes unravels Mugello’s F1 debut

Formula 1

Perez shows what Aston’s losing – and risking with Vettel

In the week Sergio Perez lost his drive to Sebastian Vettel, their performances versus their team-mates in Mugello qualifying added fuel to the argument Aston Martin’s made the wrong call for 2021

Formula 1

Racing Point moves away from Mercedes design with upgrades

New parts on Lance Stroll’s car show Racing Point is diverging from its 2019 Mercedes design base. Mark Hughes explains why that’s happening and what the upgrades do

Formula 1

Mark Hughes on how Mugello’s first F1 race is likely to unfold

How do Mercedes and Red Bull compare? Who’s fastest behind? What shape is Ferrari in? What strategy should we expect? Mark Hughes looks at the clues from Mugello so far

Formula 1

McLaren headquarters for sale, marque wants to lease it back

McLaren has put its Technology Centre headquarters up for sale, but intends to lease the site back in a bid to improve cash flow

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The ‘joke’ call central to Gasly’s shock win

Pierre Gasly’s landmark Italian Grand Prix victory was built on several key pillars, among them a “joke” strategy seemingly influenced by pressure from his team-mate