Lewis Hamilton is hopeful Mercedes’ subsequent raft of automotive upgrades – the newest of which might be launched at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix – will quickly permit them to breed their stellar front-running British GP kind frequently.
Having gone 19 months with out a win in F1, Mercedes head to Budapest’s Hungaroring chasing a 3rd victory in succession after George Russell received in Austria and Hamilton triumphed at Silverstone.
Hamilton’s emotional win at his dwelling race got here the day after Mercedes had locked out the grid’s entrance row in a shock qualifying one-two end result.
Though Hamilton doesn’t assume the previous champions are nonetheless but on absolute phrases with Purple Bull and McLaren for tempo, he believes they don’t seem to be far-off from becoming a member of them.
“There’s still a long, long way to go, but the car, by no means, is the car the quickest car on the grid right now,” mentioned Hamilton, who had gone 56 races with out a victory.
“I think we are super close, and I think hopefully with a couple of, with the next upgrade perhaps, we will be in an even stronger position to really, really be fighting at the front row more consistently.”
Since introducing upgrades onto the beforehand underperforming W15 at Might’s Emilia Romagna GP, after which a brand new entrance wing for the next occasion in Monaco, Mercedes have discovered that their improve packages have lastly been delivering what they hoped from them on trtck.
Solely McLaren have outscored the Silver Arrows over the previous six races, with Russell or Hamilton ending on the rostrum over the previous 4 weekends.
“We head into the upcoming double header with momentum,” mentioned staff boss Toto Wolff forward of the Hungary-Belgium back-to-back that takes F1 into its early-mid August summer time break.
“We have continued to make progress with the W15 in recent races. That has led to headline results in Austria and Silverstone.
“Nonetheless, we all know we do not but have a automotive that may problem for victories each weekend. The staff is working laborious to convey extra steps of efficiency that we hope will allow us to do this. These efforts will proceed over the subsequent two races and proper up till shutdown.”
Can Mercedes make it three in a row on previous completely happy searching floor?
Earlier than Russell’s current pole positions on the Canadian and British rounds, Mercedes had completed quickest in qualifying simply twice for the reason that present technical laws had been launched into F1 initially of the 2022 season – each occasions on the Hungaroring.
Certainly, Russell’s 2022 and Hamilton’s 2023 respective Budapest poles really maintained an unbeaten qualifying run on the go-kart-like circuit which stretches again to 2020, the 12 months Mercedes final received the race.
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Watch Lewis Hamilton’s pole lap in full as he makes it a report ninth on the Hungaroring.
Hamilton’s personal report on the Hungaroring is the ultimate – he has received the race eight occasions.
Wolff added: “The Hungaroring is different in character to the past couple of circuits. Unlike Silverstone, it features plenty of tight and twisty sections, with just one meaningful straight.
“It does comprise some high-speed corners too nevertheless and it’ll subsequently be one other good examination of the good points we have made throughout the nook velocity vary.
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Lewis Hamilton celebrates his ninth victory at Silverstone along with his Mercedes staff and the Silverstone crowd!
“We head into the weekend focused on doing the best job we can. We hope to maintain this positive trajectory and finish the first half of the season as strongly as possible.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Hungarian GP schedule
Thursday July 18
1.30pm: Drivers’ Press Convention
Friday July 19
8.50am: F3 Observe
10am: F2 Observe
12pm: Hungarian GP Observe One (session begins at 12.30pm)
2pm: F3 Qualifying
3pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Hungarian GP Observe Two (session begins at 4pm)
5:15pm: The F1 Present
Saturday July 20
8:45am: F3 Dash
11.15am: Hungarian GP Observe Three (session begins at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Dash
2.15pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday July 21
7:20am: F3 Characteristic Race
9am: F2 Characteristic Race
11am: Porsche Supercup
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – Hungarian GP build-up
2pm: The HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Hungarian GP response
5pm: Ted’s Pocket book
Subsequent up for F1 is the Hungarian Grand Prix from Budapest on July 19-21. You may watch each session reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
