Hamilton can equal pole record, take lead in Hungary

BUDAPEST: If all goes to plan for since last September but has the Lewis Hamilton in Hungary this momentum after a crushing home weekend, the Mercedes driver will victory at Silverstone. equal one of Michael Schumacher’s “There’s lots more things that can all-time records and head into come up in the future but I think the Formula One’s summer break as sole team’s really energised,” he said after leader of the championship. winning from a career 67th pole

Hamilton remains a long way off position, adding that Mercedes had Schumacher’s record 91 race wins “absorbed all the energy” from the but Saturday’s qualifying at the fans at Silverstone. Hungaroring could see him equal the “So I hope we can take that into great German’s hitherto unmatched the next races.” 68 pole positions. Mercedes are 55 points clear of

A 58th career win for the Briton, Ferrari in the constructors’ standings and sixth at the circuit outside but team boss Toto Wolff was wary of Budapest, on Sunday would send the suggesting the champions were the triple world champion off on vacation favourites again rather than being with at least a six-point advantage the ‘underdogs’ he had talked of after over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Monaco.

Four-time champion Vettel has “The moment you say that, you go led since winning the Australian to the next race and are slapped in season-opener in March, jointly the face,” the Austrian told reporters. with Hamilton after China, but the “It is tricky. Our car is not always German arrives in Hungary only a easy to set up and we have become point clear after 10 of 20 races. much better at doing so in a great

Hamilton, beaten by now-retired team effort.” then maybe have a more complete team matepicture.”NicoRosbergtothe2016“ButI’dliketoseeBudapest title, M but winner in Hungary, has not and how the car works on a low INIMISE MISTAKES led the championship on his own speed, high temperature track and With 250 points still to be won in the drivers’ championship, Wolff said it was too early to pick a favourite.

The key, he said, was to extract every inch of performance and minimise mistakes, mindful that Russia and Monaco had not worked out for Hamilton despite every expectation of success.

“With these new regulations it’s not set in stone that it works like it has done in the past,” said Wolff.

“Going into the summer break with a lead is nice. But there was a very famous Austrian skier who was always sector world champion but never won the championship.”

“So I’d like to have the gap (lead) before the holiday, but it doesn’t mean anything for the world championship.”

For Vettel, Hungary is a chance to rebuild his advantage at a track that also holds good recent memories — in 2015 the Ferrari driver won after Hamilton started on pole.

Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen, for whom Budapest is almost a home race, and compatriot Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes will also be strong contenders, as will Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.

“I love that track and it has always been a good one for me,” said Ricciardo, who won in 2014. “We’ve got lots more grip this year so it’ll be a bit more fun.”