Reuters
Budapest, July 20: Lewis Hamilton heads into Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix fired up to complete a hat-trick of victories and seize the lead in the Formula One (F1) title race for the first time this season.
The triple world champion trails Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg by just one point after a sensational fourth win of the season two weeks ago in his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Before that he won the Austrian Grand Prix.
“Ever since the low of Barcelona I’ve been able to cultivate this really strong mental attitude and I’m really feeling that fire inside me right now,” said Hamilton, who trailed Rosberg by 43 points after the pair collided and crashed out on the first lap in May’s Spanish Grand Prix.
“I’m feeling fresh, powerful confident heading to Hungary. It”s a track that has always suited my style and I have incredible support there,” the Brit added.
Hamilton has won four times at the 4.3-km long Hungaroring circuit, outside Budapest, including his first victory for Mercedes in 2013. Another win for the 31-year-old at the halfway stage of the championship would be more than any driver has managed here. Hamilton and seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher currently hold the record.
Rosberg, who dropped from second to third in Silverstone after a post-race penalty for breaching radio rules, will be determined to deny him that honour.
“The battle is on with Lewis and I’m feeling great in myself and great in the car,” said Rosberg, winner of five races this year including the first four.
While the spotlight is trained on the Hamilton versus Rosberg battle, resurgent Red Bull could steal the show.
Despite winning 41 of the 48 races since the start of the V6 turbo-hybrid era in 2014, Mercedes have yet to win in Hungary with the new engine. Australian Daniel Ricciardo won for Red Bull in 2014 while Sebastian Vettel was triumphant for Ferrari last year.
