Mercedes head into the Hungarian Grand Prix in superb form, having won three of the past four races with Lewis Hamilton cutting Sebastian Vettel’s lead at the top of the Driver’s Championship to just a solitary point. Mercedes and Hamilton’s charge has left the Formula 1 season delicately poised heading into the final Grand Prix before the summer break. Sebastian Vettel held a 20-point lead just weeks ago and he will be determined to pick up a victory in Budapest, knowing that he can ill afford a repeat of the problems Ferrari suffered last time out at Silverstone.
In that race at Silverstone, Ferrari looked well off the pace that Mercedes were setting and Vettel was denied a podium finish after suffering tyre problems late on in the race. It was not just Vettel who was affected though, as his team mate Kimi Raikkonen also lost his grip on second place after suffering tyre failure. Mercedes will be supremely confident heading to Hungary after a 1-2 finish in England with Hamilton looking in some of the best form of his career to date. Valteri Bottas has also closed the gap on Vettel in the Driver’s Championship, with the French driver now just 23 points behind the Championship leader as he takes advantage of the Ferrari drivers recent struggles.
Betting Tips
This weekend Lewis Hamilton can equal Michael Schumacher’s record of pole positions in Formula 1 and he attempts to do it at a track where he has been extremely successful in the past with six pole positions and five wins to his name already. Therefore, the smart money could be on Hamilton to pick up the trio of pole position, fastest lap and a race win. Ladbrokes are offering odds of 5/2 on someone achieving the trio of Fastest Qualifier, Fastest Lap and Race Winner this weekend.
Looking beyond Hamilton, Red Bull are expected to have an improved car this weekend following a big upgrade to their unit and therefore it might be worth taking a look at Daniel Ricciardo or Max Verstappen to secure a podium finish at the Hungaroring. Ladbrokes are offering odds of 5/6 on Ricciardo finishing on the podium, whilst his teammate Verstappen is available at odds of 11/8.
Further down the field, Fernando Alonso could find success in Hungary with the Spanish driver having not finished lower than seventh there since 2009 and on a less power hungry track, Alonso could find himself in with a great chance of a top 6 finish on the weekend of his 36th birthday. Ladbrokes are offering huge odds of 25/1 on Alonso picking up a podium finish, whilst a safer bet could be the 5/2 available for him to finish in the top 6.
Conclusion
Expect Lewis Hamilton to reign supreme again this weekend, with the British star expected to secure the pole position, fastest lap and a race victory in Budapest.
Any Driver – Fastest Qualifier, Fastest Lap, Race Winner – Yes – 5/2