Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes don’t need more rain to win the Hungarian Grand Prix, despite not being able to match Ferrari’s pace during practice.
After taking pole position in a rain-hit qualifying session at the Hungaroring, Hamilton said “I don’t think we need the rain tomorrow” to win. “Hopefully we don’t need the rain,” he added.
However Hamilton, a five-time winner at the track, admitted he hasn’t been as strong at the circuit in his last two visits.“For a track that’s usually been so good to me and worked so well for me it’s not been really been the strongest for me the last couple of years, this year and last year.
“Even this weekend when it’s been dry Valtteri [Bottas] has been quicker than me all weekend, I’ve been struggling with the set-up and the feel with these tyres.”
Hamilton predicted Ferrari will be able to put pressure on them in the race. “The long run was so-so. The Ferraris were quicker on the long run. Position is key here. This is the third-hardest track on the whole calendar to overtake.”
“It will be quite a close race between us all,” Hamilton predicted. “Getting through the stint is going to be key, looking after tyres, not running over the temperature limits that we have been facing.
“It’s going to be close. I can’t really tell you what’s going to happen. Just got to get our heads down and try to pull away.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2018 F1 season
- McLaren staff told us we were “totally crazy” to take Honda engines in 2018 – Tost
- ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
- Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
- Ricciardo: Baku “s***show” was Red Bull’s fault
Chaitanya
28th July 2018, 17:32
Considering winner of this race generally doesnt win the title, I hope he messes up the start tomorrow.
David (@davidjwest)
28th July 2018, 18:19
I expect at least one Ferrari to get ahead of at least one of the Mercedes at the start, so it is going to be an interesting race. Ferrari are four tenths quicker in sector 1 so with DRS they can pass the Mercedes, unless the Mercs are quicker in S3, I don’t have that info!
Hot weather predicted so Mercedes rears will cause them problems, I think a Ferrari 1-2 is possible depending on how badly they want to compromise Kimi’s race.
mystic one (@mysticus)
28th July 2018, 18:42
Cough… It could be that one of the ferrari may crash one of the merc by trying to go ahead Cough… Conspiracy
Patrickl (@patrickl)
28th July 2018, 19:51
Perhaps overtaking isn’t that easy here, but this is also generally not a track where the pole sitter wins.
Raikkonen usually does well here. Hopefully finally he gets his chance. Especially after last seasons race here.
Schudha
28th July 2018, 20:11
He’s too slow and holding up a top seat.
Hulkenberg or Grosjean would likely be matching Vettel, whilst Ricciardo or Alonso would be beating him.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
28th July 2018, 22:04
Schudha, I agree, but I do think Ferrari owe it to Raikkonen to finally let him get on with it for a change. Although it’s more likely that he will be used as a pawn again to hinder Mercedes rather than let him do his own race.
Balue (@balue)
29th July 2018, 11:32
Bless
Mark Visser
28th July 2018, 20:24
If this is the 3rd hardest track to overtake on, what would be the 2nd?
Martin
28th July 2018, 20:55
Singapore maybe?
Eli
28th July 2018, 23:19
Australia
Tango (@tango)
29th July 2018, 7:35
Australia and Monaco?
Tom
28th July 2018, 22:43
Mercedes problem is they don’t have the pace or tyre wear advantage here. If Mercedes do lead the first stint Ferrari can likely do the under or overcut to get ahead. I think they’ll have the pace to make either work. Mercedes could play a team game and try slow the pace while letting the lead car build a gap but that’s really risky. I honestly expect a Ferrari 1-2 tomorrow based on their pace so far this weekend.
mystic one (@mysticus)
28th July 2018, 23:00
Merc could use bottas to slow down Vettel’s pace while Ham pit, and give him enough buffer for a overcut, or undercut depending on when ham/vet pits… if both ham/bot get away nicely at the start… they have a strong chance of getting one car in the lead without of course some VSC / SC drama!
David (@davidjwest)
28th July 2018, 23:26
This is where the strategy gets interesting, I expect Ferrari to use Kimi to spoil the Mercedes race so they’ll probably run him long to prevent the undercut. It could be very interesting, or very dull!
Mercedes may want to run their two drivers close together so whoever is 2nd can get the DRS from the leader so the lead Ferrari cannot overtake as their DRS will be nullified.
Of course, if there is overtaking into T1 (or T2) that all becomes meaningless.
Kenneth e jefferson
29th July 2018, 2:17
Merc fan but if Ferrari is that much faster the only way they even delay an overtake is if both cars get off to good starts
anon
29th July 2018, 5:27
It’s tough to pass here, but not like the days before DRS.
Vettel passing Hammy will be tougher, but if Vettel can get to second quickly and stay within a couple of seconds of Hammy, then the undercut will be on and Ferrari should be able to get it done.
Dex
29th July 2018, 9:46
Hamilton is not bad here also, having won five times and taken six poles.