Preview: Hungarian Grand Prix

Brawn GP driver Jenson Button will try to recover his winning form at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend. (GUILLAUME BAPTISTE/AFP/Getty Images)

Change is a constant in Formula One, and with the teams headed into the second half of their season, marked by Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix, the rate of change is sure to escalate.

The first casualty of the 2009 season is Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Bourdais. He has been replaced by 18-year-old Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, as a result of Toro Rosso's struggles on the track. It is also rumoured that driver Nelsinho Piquet has been told this may be his last race for Renault unless he brings home some points for the team.

The Hungaroring track, located just outside Budapest, will be a huge change for teams from the past two races. This circuit is much slower with tighter corners.

The temperatures will be hotter, and driver fitness will be challenged here as the track allows no time for rest. The tight corners leave little room for passing so qualifying will be key. Race strategy will also take on a more important role as track position is just as critical as outright speed.

It would appear the battle for the championship is now down to BrawnGP and Red Bull. Other teams will now begin to decide how many resources to invest in this season, and how much will go into developing next season's cars.

With the winds of change blowing through the paddock, here is a team-by-team rundown of this Sunday's race, the 10th of the season.

McLaren: It has been a disastrous season for the defending champions. Lewis Hamilton is talking about LeMans and NASCAR, so clearly his focus is elsewhere. The car was massively updated with a new nose and diffuser last race. The result was a single point, and Hamilton finishing almost dead last again. The slower track will be better for McLaren but they will be lucky to get a point.

Ferrari: This team has managed to turn its season around with the introduction of a new car only six races into the season. Their last race was a disaster, but the Ferrari F60 likes the slower tracks. A podium finish at Monaco is encouraging and with both Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen looking for a new contract next year, they are motivated to be fighting up front. A Top 5 finish is a possibility, and a podium will be a challenge.

BMW: Another team in the midst of a forgettable season. They have updated the car, with some success, but it seems they are already working on the 2010 BMW chassis. They will finish in the bottom half of the field, so points are out of the question.

Renault: The last race provided more updates to this underperforming car, with Fernando Alonso setting the fastest race lap. With Nelsinho Piquet's seat on the line, it may be hard for this team to focus. I believe they are looking towards next season and have suspended development of the car. A good qualifying may put them near the front, which could help. The car is not among the fastest, but Alonso will fight, as he always does and could finish as high as seventh. I am afraid Piquet will be a fan next race, not a driver.

Toyota: This chassis has proven best at tracks like Hungaroring that require high down force. They are not as fast as the top three teams but could be in the hunt for a sixth-place finish, if they can stay out of trouble. These guys have been involved in more accidents than anyone else.

Toro Rosso: This team's lack of performance has cost one driver his job. It is essentially a one-car team now. Adding a rookie teenage driver will not help the team in Hungary. A top-15 would be encouraging and how young Jaime Alguersuari will perform in his debut will be interesting.

Red Bull: This team has worked harder than anyone updating their wonderful chassis to become the dominant car in the series. While Brawn still leads them in points, right now Red Bull is faster. The warmer temperature may close the gap, but Red Bull has momentum, coming from a top two finish. The biggest problem here is which driver will get declared as the No. 1: Mark Webber or Sebastian Vettel.

Williams: This team has been near the front all season. The chassis and Toyota power are excellent. Nico Rosberg has matured and proven himself as a top driver. A fourth place last race is certainly encouraging. The Williams chassis loves the tighter tracks. If Rosberg qualifies well, he will be up front fighting with Ferrari, BrawnGP and Red Bull for a podium.

BrawnGP: I can't imagine Ross Brawn being panicked, but he must be concerned. The dominant team in the first six races of the season, it has lost some ground to Red Bull. I expect BrawnGP to fight back at the Hungaroring. The cars work better in warmer temperatures; it should help cure some tire issues they have suffered recently. Jenson Button is due for a big performance. I hope it will be Button versus Vettel for the win.

Force India: Nobody expects this team to be a force, but they have shown great progress this season. Adrian Sutil has raced well, running as high as second last race. The team has spent a lot of time improving the cars and I hope they finally score some points for all their effort. It seems strange to predict Force India to finish ahead of McLaren and BMW, but they will.

Click