Lewis set for 3rd straight win

2008-07-31 14:06

Hungary - Lewis Hamilton is aiming for a third straight victory this season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, while main rival Ferrari is looking to rebound from disappointing results and reaffirm early promise.

Hamilton displayed championship-calibre driving to take a soaked Silverstone before late overtaking moves gave him the German GP and a four-point lead in the overall standings over Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

The 23-year-old Briton won't make any strategic changes going into the 11th of 18 races.

"It's potentially dangerous to start thinking about changing your approach at this point in the season," said Hamilton, who won from pole last year. "My approach has served me fairly well so far and I'd need to give it some serious thought before attempting to change it."

With the 4.381-kilometer Hungaroring track bearing a resemblance to Montreal and Monte Carlo with its twisty turns and tight corners - 14 in all - Hamilton knows qualifying will be important.

"It will be hot and tiring too, so keeping your focus and concentration will be vital," said Hamilton, who won at Monaco and led in Canada before a pit lane accident led to an early retirement.

Ferrari won't be buoyed by a trip to Hungary, where its British rival has won two of the last three races.

Constructors' standings

Coming off a demoralizing German GP marked by car problems, the Italians need a result to sway momentum away from its principal rival.

McLaren has cut Ferrari's lead in the constructors' standings to 19 points, while Kimi Raikkonen has slipped seven back of Hamilton.

"It's no secret that we're not satisfied by how the last five races went," defending world champion Raikkonen said. "I never let myself be influenced by tension and I won't start now. I've just got to keep my focus and continue to give as much as possible, race after race. That's what I've done every time I was in trouble."

Raikkonen, who won with McLaren three years ago, can count on a large Finnish contingent to boost his morale following a dismal run since his last victory at Barcelona.

The Italians put heavy pressure on themselves to upgrade the red car at testing last week and will try a shark fin engine cover on Friday. After taking five of the first eight GPs, Ferrari has struggled since Massa won the Turkish GP in early May.

BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica, who made his debut at the Hungaroring in 2006, will also count on Polish fans as he tries to rebound after slipping 10 points back of Hamilton.

'Consecutive time'

Teammate Nick Heidfeld reached the podium in the last two trips, but will have to overcome his qualifying struggles if he hopes to return to the championship fold at one of the hardest circuits for overtaking. The German driver sits seven points behind Kubica, while BMW Sauber trails Ferrari by 16 in the constructors.

"The goal is to make it onto the Budapest podium for the third consecutive time," said BMW Sauber team principal Mario Theissen. "Our pledge is to get both cars firmly into the top-10 qualifiers and take home another decent points haul."

Renault will be looking to build on Nelson Piquet Jr.'s runner-up finish at Hockenheim and is coming to a track where two-time world champion Fernando Alonso won his first race for the French team.

"So far this season we seem to have been talking about unfulfilled promise with the car, and, although luck played a part in this result, we certainly feel that it makes up for some of the times in the last few races where the luck hasn't gone our way," engineering director Pat Symonds said.

Piquet Jr.'s finish in Germany gave Renault 23 points in the race for fourth spot in the constructors' standings, with Toyota at 25 and Red Bull on 24.

Red Bull's David Coulthard will stick with his engine for a third straight race, a move designed to let him use new engines at Belgium and Italy - two of the season's most demanding circuits.

- AP