F1 Raceweek: Can Vettel's Hungary form eat into Hamilton lead?

Sebastian Vettel has won two of the last three in Budapest

Budapest, July 25: Sebastian Vettel will hope to continue his fine record at the Hungarian Grand Prix and make up ground on Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton ahead of the mid-season break.

Ferrari driver Vettel qualified on pole for last weekend's race at the Hockenheimring, but he crashed out as Hamilton fought from 14th to first in Germany and opened up a 17-point lead over his title rival, escaping punishment for a pit-lane mix-up.

The German has won two of the last three grands prix at the Hungaroring, triumphing in 2015 and 2017.

If Vettel emerges victorious in Budapest once more it will be the only circuit where the German has won three times for Ferrari.

Slippery conditions proved Vettel's undoing last weekend but upgraded Ferrari engines recently delivered to the grid have provided a handy boost in performance.

However, it has led to suggestions the Italian manufacturer may be playing fast and loose with the regulations, although Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is focused solely on his team.

Wolff said: "I think what we've seen is that on racetracks that should have suited us - Silverstone and Hockenheim - they had a car that was very good on the chassis side and a power unit that was the benchmark in the field.

"The only reaction we can have to that is not to say, 'What are they doing?' but the reaction should be, 'What can we do in order to accelerate our own development program?'"

With four weeks until the action returns in Belgium next month, it is the perfect time for either Vettel or Hamilton to strike a blow.

Making sense of the madness at Hockenheim 😵

And working out just how @LewisHamilton ended top of the pile #GermanGP 🇩🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/1aFnWjmofE
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 24, 2018

TALK OF THE PADDOCK

The mid-season may be just on the horizon, but Max Verstappen is already thinking about spending time away from the track: "Walking on the banks of the Danube is nice and gives a chance to see both parts of the city, Buda and Pest. I'll always try to fit in a good helping of goulash while I'm in Hungary as I really enjoy this dish, usually on Sunday evening."

Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas may have signed new contracts with Mercedes recently, but Esteban Ocon, one of their development drivers, could be heading for Renault next season. Force India's Otmar Szafnauer told motorsport.com: "We like Esteban and he's done a great job for us. At the end of the day, it's our call. If Renault want to pay a bunch of money, I'll consider it!"

There will be a new face in the Renault car after the Hungary Grand Prix, with Formula 2 driver Artem Markelov set to take part in his first official F1 test at the Hungaroring.

🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
Our driver line-up for the #BudaTest is confirmed!

Day 1 - Nico Hülkenberg
Day 2 - Artem Markelov#RSspirit pic.twitter.com/ZcSKgrntPp
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) July 24, 2018