F1 has last fling before holiday

● Today’s Hungarian Grand Prix presents the chance for either Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel to gain the upper hand before the championship takes a holiday break.

Formula One will resume on August 26 with the Belgian Grand Prix at Francorchamps.

Today’s race, on a narrow and twisty track, was introduced in 1986, with the idea of a Monaco-style street circuit being built in Budapest’s biggest public park.

That idea never materialised and the village of Mogyorod was chosen instead. Any fears that a first grand prix behind what was then the Iron Curtain would fall flat were quickly dismissed as 200 000 spectators turned up to see Nelson Piquet’s Williams beat Ayrton Senna’s Lotus to take victory.

The Hungaroring gives fans some of the best views on the calendar, with 80% visibility of the action from certain vantage points. You can watch the drama unfold as you slip down the water slides near the venue.

Hamilton holds the record for the most wins in Hungary (five), though he has never won a Hungarian Grand Prix and a world championship title in the same year.

Twelve months ago one man who did look like achieving that goal was Vettel.

The German hung on to win a nail-biting contest despite troubles with his Ferrari, teammate Kimi Raikkonen, and a late surge by Hamilton.

The crowds were also treated to a Red Bull showdown as Max Verstappen’s clumsy takeout of Daniel Ricciardo at turn two prompted tense words over the team radio and after the race. The plaudits were rightly given to Vettel for managing his race well in difficult circumstances. A 14-point lead was in the bag for Ferrari and the month-long holiday looked all the sweeter.

But the elation in Budapest turned to the stuff of nightmares after the break. Vettel and Ferrari’s season imploded in Asia in the space of three races. There was a multi-car pile-up in Singapore, an early retirement through engine troubles in Japan, and a spirited fourth-place finish from the back of the grid due to more engine problems in Malaysia.

The title was eventually lifted by Hamilton; the feeling of “what if?” was felt by Vettel. After the high drama of Hockenheim last weekend, who will hold their nerve in Hungary?