Hamilton can head into F1's August break on a Hungary high

BUDAPEST, July 22 : Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton could go into Formula One's August break on a Hungarian high this weekend while championship leaders Mercedes seek urgent answers to George Russell's car woes.

Russell's plight, with his car losing chunks of time on the straights, has dominated paddock chatter as his 19-year-old Italian teammate Kimi Antonelli goes from strength to strength with six wins in 10 rounds.

The Briton, who started the season as title favourite and with the nickname 'Mr Consistency', is now 50 points adrift of Antonelli after spinning off into the gravel in Belgium last Sunday for his third no-score of the year.

That blank let Hamilton back into second place overall, 45 points behind Antonelli, and the Hungaroring is a favourite for the seven-time world champion who won six of his titles with Mercedes before moving to Maranello.

EIGHT TIMES WINNER AT THE HUNGARORING

Hamilton has won eight times in Hungary over the years, an unparalleled feat at the Budapest track, and can equal his outright record Silverstone tally of nine wins at the same circuit.

Hungary is also the scene of Hamilton's most recent pole position, back in 2023.

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur was wary of talking up the team's prospects, at a circuit where engine power and straight line speed matter far less, even if others were already doing so.

"Now each weekend we start from scratch. It's a lot about setup, tyre management. On this one Budapest will be probably much better than Spa, it will be a different game ... but it's not a given," said the Frenchman.

"I don't want to go to Budapest considering that it will be easy, because it won't be easy. On paper for sure the engine deficit will be less of an issue, but then we have to do the same