Hamilton Has Verstappen In His Sights

Lewis Hamilton has hinted he will be looking to make immediate inroads into Max Verstappen in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Hamilton will start this weekend’s race from third position after Red Bull’s Verstappen backed up his victory in Germany last time out to secure pole.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas qualified second, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc fourth and Sebastian Vettel another spot back. The young Dutch driver is the man of the moment, however, having taken his second chequered flag of the year at the Hockenheimring, and looked superb in qualifying. The Brit was full of praise for his young rival but will be hoping to put some serious pressure on Verstappen right from the off.

“Naturally were always targeting first place. Max did a great job and Valtteri, too. We will be pushing on tomorrow,” he said. “It’s a long way down to Turn One so it will be interesting. It’s not the easiest place to overtake here but I hope we can give them a run for their money.”

Bottas feels he is trending in the right direction and, like his Silver Arrows colleague, is already looking forward to the race. “It’s been getting better and better in qualifying and I’m pretty pleased with the lap in the end, obviously,” said the Finn. “Very close with Max, who has been quick all weekend, but there is always tomorrow.”