HUNGAR GAMES

Lewis aiming to fashion another win after edging out team-mate Valtteri

LEWIS HAMILTON is expecting today’s shootout for pole position to be a close contest despite a dominant start to his Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

The Briton, who is bidding for a record-equalling eighth win in Budapest, continued his stunning form after a dominant victory in Austria last Sunday.

Yesterday he set the fastest time in first practice as he edged out

Mercedes teammate Valtteri

Bottas by 0.086 seconds, before opting against posting a lap time in a washed out second session topped by

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Red Bull, who are expected to be Mercedes’ chief challengers in Hungary, were more than one second off the pace in the dry in a huge boost to Hamilton (above).

But the six-time world champion is not getting carried away, believing there will be plenty of competition in qualifying. He said: “I don’t take too much from it. Everyone is doing something different out there in terms of wing and fuel and engine and all these kind of things.

“We got through what we needed to get through. It was going OK. It’s going to be a lot closer when we get to P3 and qualifying but the car, there was some work to do to it, so we did some work.

“Then it rained and we won’t know until we get another dry session.”

Last week in Austria, Hamilton romped to a sensational wetweather pole in one of the finest qualifying performances of his career.

But with the potential of rain in Hungary this weekend, the reigning champion is expecting a trickier afternoon due to the tight and twisting nature of the Hungaroring.

Hamilton added: “It’s supposed to be the same as today (mixed conditions).

“Who knows? It might be raining all day tomorrow. On Sunday I hope it’s going to be dry, this is such a great track to drive in the dry, it’s a very tricky circuit to drive in the wet.”

F1 also confirmed its first two positive Covid-19 results ahead of tomorrow’s race.

It is understood they were involved in setting up this week’s race and are not employed by the 10 teams.

They have since been removed from the sport’s bubble, with no impact expected on the third round of the championship

In a statement the sport’s governing body said: “The FIA and Formula One can today confirm that between July 10 and July 16, 4,997 tests for Covid-19 have been performed on drivers, teams and personnel and of these, two people have tested positive.

“The individuals were not present in Austria, with the affected people removed and isolated.

“Tracing of close contacts has been completed and isolated. No specific details as to teams or individuals will be provided and results will be made public every seven days.”