Rosberg Hungary For More

Nico Rosberg continues his mission to win his first Driver’s Championship at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest this weekend.

The Season So Far

The Mercedes show rolled on in Germany last weekend as Nico Rosberg took the chequered flag to increase his lead at the top of the Drivers Championship and Lewis Hamilton overcame the handicap of a grid penalty to claim third spot. With Red Bull and Ferrari still struggling to catch the leaders, Williams have overtaken them as the main challengers. Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa once again qualified in the top three, and Bottas earned his second consecutive runner-up spot.

The Circuit

The mid-summer visit to the Hungaroring in Mogyorod, Budapest, is always a challenge for drivers. Like Monaco, it is a narrow, tight, twisting track which puts a lot of pressure on brakes and driving technique. DRS has improved the overtaking situation, but it is still a tough track on which to pass and the race can be won or lost on pit stop strategy. As ever, temperatures will be high, although there is the possibility of a thunderstorm or two over the weekend.

In The Pits

Williams have emerged as the main rivals to Mercedes in the last three races, and both Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa are available at double-figure odds in Hungary, but punters should exercise caution. Like Monaco, this is a circuit where down-force and aerodynamics come into play and where having a good power unit is less important. The track won’t play to the strengths of the Williams car and it may pay to steer clear of both Bottas and Massa just for this week.

Recommended Bets

Lewis Hamilton won this race for Mercedes last year, his fourth Hungarian triumph, which might explain why he is once again the short-priced ante-post favourite, but for all the Hamilton hype, he’s only won one more Grand Prix than Nico Rosberg this year, and trails his team-mate in the Drivers Championship.

The underrated German is once again available at odds against and is the preferred option.

Red Bull may have been passed by Williams in the race to catch Mercedes, but this weekend offers a chance for last year’s Constructors Championship winners to regain some ground. The tight, twisting circuit means that teams utilising the more powerful Mercedes unit won’t be able to pull away, and the emphasis on aerodynamics will suit their car. Daniel Ricciardo bagged a podium place in Monaco and on a similar track he is the likeliest contender to take advantage of any Mercedes slip up at 33/1.

And at a really big price it could be worth taking a chance on one of the Lotus drivers. The team went well in Hungary last year, with Romain Grosjean qualifying in third and Kimi Raikkonen claiming second in the race itself. They haven’t done a lot this season, but the track should suit and Grosjean is worth an each way punt at 1500/1.