The Mercedes Formula One driver needs a win to cut into teammate Nico Rosberg’s 14-point championship lead after 10 of the 19 races and Hungary offers the perfect opportunity.
Hamilton has won there four times in the last seven seasons, including the last two, and the Briton shares the record for victories at the slow and twisty Hungaroring circuit with Michael Schumacher.
Rosberg’s best result at the circuit, outside Budapest, remains a fourth place with Williams in 2009. However, Hamilton’s season has also been beset by bad luck, with two race retirements and problems such as the front brake disc failure in qualifying that led to him starting last weekend’s German Grand Prix from 20th on the grid.
“I’m going there [Hungary] to try and win,” he told reporters after finishing third at Hockenheim.
“I just hope that the car sticks together so I can go out and do the job... I’m not planning on starting from the back there,” he added with a laugh.
Hamilton, like most Formula One drivers, is a believer in the old adage that you make your own luck in motor racing and he said he would never pray for it. But it would be nice if some of the bad stuff went away in the last grand prix before the three-week European summer shutdown.
“A clean weekend is what I’m looking for, to come away from there with some strong points going into the break, get some rest time and then head back into the last part of the season.”
While Rosberg will be Hamilton’s main rival, with Mercedes having won nine of the 10 races so far, Hungary is more about aerodynamics and downforce than having the best engine.
That could put Red Bull more into the mix — although quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel has never won in Hungary despite finishing on the podium three times.
Williams – and particularly Finland’s Valtteri Bottas – have been the team pushing Mercedes hardest of late and the revived former champions will be hoping for another good weekend.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2014.
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