More aero tweaks for Sauber

Last year Bridgestone struggled on the Budapest track with Michael Schumacher the highest placed Bridgestone runner in eighth spot. This year though Bridgestone is set to take an improved tyre to the event, which, alongside some aero refinements from the team's new windtunnel should give the team a fighting chance of securing more points.

"The Hungaroring shares two things with Monaco: it requires maximum downforce, and it is very hard to overtake there," said technical chief Willy Rampf. "Generally this is a three-stop race; in 2003 eight of the first nine cars stopped three times.

"I am confident that Bridgestone will give us a strong tyre for the conditions we expect. We cannot test prior to the race because of the summer break, but we will have more new aerodynamic parts from the windtunnel at Hinwil."

Fisichella is looking forward to racing at the circuit but admitted that it was a tough event both on the body and on the mind.

"The Hungaroring is one of my favourite circuit," he said. "It's twisting, demanding, and has lots of corners that flow one after another in combinations of medium- and low-speed. The ambient and track temperatures are always high, so it's hard physically and mentally. I like that."

"The 2004 Bridgestone tyres will be much better suited to the track, after the company has made big steps forward, and this will go hand-in-hand with the major step we made with our lower engine cover at Silverstone."

Team-mate Felipe Massa has not driven at the circuit since 2002 but a good result then has left him optimistic for this weekend.

"I'm looking forward to the race," he said. "I had a very good one in 2002 when I finished seventh after all of the top teams' cars finished, and I fought my team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella (who was driving for Jordan at the time) all the way. This year I know Bridgestone will have a good tyre for the track, so hopefully I can score a similar result to earn some more points for the team."