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Hungarian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton targets Nico Rosberg's lead

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments138

Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix to narrow the gap on Rosberg

Lewis Hamilton says he is "feeling that fire inside me" as he tries to leapfrog Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg at the top of the drivers' championship in Hungary this weekend.

Since the pair crashed in Spain in May, Hamilton has won four out of five races to move to within one point of Rosberg.

"Ever since the low of Barcelona I've been able to cultivate this really strong mental attitude," he said.

"I'm feeling fresh, powerful and confident heading to Hungary."

World champion Hamilton, 31, has won four times in Hungary, but his last victory at the circuit came in 2013 and he was sixth last year.

"I have incredible support there, so I can't wait to get out on track," said the Briton.

"The past couple of years I haven't had the smoothest of weekends in Budapest - but I know I've got the pace, so I'm gunning to turn that around this time."

German Rosberg, 31, finished eighth in Hungary last year and has a highest-placed finish of fourth at the Hungaroring.

He said: "The battle is on with Lewis and I'm feeling great in myself and great in the car - so bring it on."

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is expecting a tough challenge this weekend and said the track "plays to the strength of our rivals".

He added: "The Red Bull, for example, is a car that functions well where high drag isn't penalised as much as at other types of circuit.

"In wet conditions and at low-speed circuits such as the Hungaroring, they are a major threat.

"We will need to be flawless to come out on top."

Hungaroring

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138 comments

  • Comment posted by Sk1d, at 14:44 18 Jul 2016

    @ 18 Dale 1972

    Dude I think your caps lock is on!

    What ever you think of LH the man, don't let it cloud your judgement of LH the racing driver. He may not be your favourite, but there is no doubt that he is a very accomplished racer. His race and championship wins prove that.beyond all doubt.

    Whats your problem with Brits supporting a Brit?

  • Comment posted by AMC74, at 15:00 18 Jul 2016

    Since both drivers have been at Merc, I can honetly say that I don't think i've ever seen NR get one up on LH in a straight fight. NR results are a direct result of having a top machine under him and misfortune/errors effecting LH. Whereas LH is a born natural behind the wheel..... there's no competition when it comes to who is the best driver

    LH wins hands down!!!!!

  • Comment posted by Dubz2010, at 13:51 18 Jul 2016

    Really hope this championship is decided by driving and not by pit/strategy errors or mechanical failure. I'm rooting for Lewis but whoever wins i want them to have really won it rather than being gifted it.

  • Comment posted by UK-Minardi-Fan, at 13:42 18 Jul 2016

    It seems we are in this rare place where both Hamilton and Rosberg are very focussed and operating at a high level (apart from the 2 collisions!) - so we are set for an epic mid-part of the season. Should be fun to watch! And is it my imagination, or have the trolls faded lately?

  • Comment posted by Adrian Marchant, at 15:06 18 Jul 2016

    Re 18. Posted by Dale 1972

    With 3 x WDC, LH must be the luckiest man in history!!!

    Nah! We all know you are totally off your chump. There are few drivers in history who could regularly beat LH on an even footing. NR is definitely not one of them. Alonso or Vettel would be more interesting but I'd still back LH to win a greater percentage.

  • Comment posted by User0013981083, at 15:54 18 Jul 2016

    38. Posted by scraman
    on 5 minutes ago

    Why this obsession with British drivers? Motor racing - the clue is in the title. It's about cars not drivers.

    ------

    Ha like football? It's called football - clue is in the title, its about the leather sphere not the players.

  • Comment posted by Peteszt, at 13:40 18 Jul 2016

    Would be great to see Lewis go toe to toe with Max and Daniel here, fingers crossed!

  • Comment posted by Richard, at 16:33 18 Jul 2016

    @48 LMAO

    @47 Nanday

    Really? In Canada LH was on the normal racing line as he and NR went round the corner side by side. In Austria NR deliberately failed to turn into the corner on the usual racing line and LH had 2 options - run off track, or turn into the corner and hit NR. Either option put NR at fault. Rosberg is not as good a driver as you seem to think he is!

  • Comment posted by Neutral, at 14:57 18 Jul 2016

    @ 18 Dale 1972

    Have you ever actually watched F1? When did Alonso prove that he was better. when they were team mates at Mclaren? Vettel & Hamilton have never raced in equally competitive cars. So I guess you are just another LH hater..

  • Comment posted by U14237059, at 13:41 18 Jul 2016

    Rosberg was gifted a huge lead at the start of the season but has seen it frittered away by Hamilton who looks determined as ever. Hopefully pit stops will be equally as good for both drivers for the rest of the season and the better driver will win.

  • Comment posted by Jabberwocky, at 16:43 18 Jul 2016

    Whatever the rights and wrongs of the various incidents between LH & NR (and even their team aren't clear on this), I'd still rate LH as the quicker driver than NR. Don't get me wrong, I would love for NR to be closer to LH and pushing him harder... ..I just don't think that he can - not when LH is truly on his game.
    BTW - I don't 'love' LH and I don't 'hate' NR. I respect their abilities.

  • Comment posted by Mason Cash, at 13:53 18 Jul 2016

    Love this track, usually a pretty good race - not sure if it's because it induces driver error or is just conducive to good racing. I don't care.

    Is on my short-list of GPs to visit.

    P.S. Go Lewis!

  • Comment posted by Stewp0t, at 18:25 18 Jul 2016

    @ 59

    "GOOD LUCK, NICO.

    YOU'RE MORE OF A DRIVER THAN THAT HAMILTON WILL EVER BE"

    as the results over the past three seasons obviously demonstrate......! lol

  • Comment posted by Jabberwocky, at 14:51 18 Jul 2016

    Dale mate - no need to shout.
    In a straight fight I would expect LH to beat NR every time.
    But then, I am off my head... ...aren't I?

  • Comment posted by JohnUK, at 13:30 18 Jul 2016

    Wow, possibly the first to comment makes a nice change , it would be nice to see some rain, bring the others closer and see some racing based on drivers skills not driver aids !

  • Comment posted by RVPISAG, at 17:26 18 Jul 2016

    54. Posted by Kevin1958 - mate, the comparisons with Senna are justified, if a little biased because we are in the UK. But LH was winning races even when McLaren were left behind my Red Bull. The guy has always won races, got poles, overtaken people, and now he has the car his talent deserves, the world titles are here. You cant question his will to win. Senna was actually reckless at times.

  • Comment posted by Sheikh-Prattle-And-Droll, at 17:37 18 Jul 2016

    Comparing LH with NR makes me laugh. LH is an all-round racer, fast in qualifying, quick in the dry, quicker in the wet, better at overtaking, conserving fuel & tyres. He has 2 world driver's titles in 2 years in the same team as NR & will win another having given a 43 point head start. Yet people still make a case 4 NR; he isn't a racer, all he can do is drive quickly when everything is perfect.

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 15:52 18 Jul 2016

    I have never seen a driver get as many advantages as Rosberg and as many disadvantages as Lewis and still be virtually identical on points.

    Lewis has suffered "mysterious" car issues for 90% of the season so far while Rosberg has been getting never ending praise for coasting home in the best car from the front.

    NR has also inexplicably escaped numerous penalties for ramming LH off track.

  • Comment posted by Sk1d, at 17:19 18 Jul 2016

    59. 2Deep4U

    If you're going to troll, at least put some effort in to it and give us something reasonably intelligible to bite on!

    Writing in all capitals makes us think you are 10 years old.

  • Comment posted by ISD, at 18:10 18 Jul 2016

    @ Dale 1972, this is what FA has said about LH in the past '"Why do I say Hamilton is the strongest? Because it's what I think, it's my personal opinion and there is nothing political in that," said Alonso. "Lewis has always won races ever since he has been in Formula 1, even in years like 2009, when he had started the season with a car that was two seconds off the quickest'.

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