- Mercedes
Hamilton not taking Hungary record for granted
Lewis Hamilton insists his four career victories at the Hungaroring mean nothing this weekend as he looks to narrow the gap to Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg before the summer break.
With four victories to his name in Budapest Hamilton is seen as favourite for this weekend's race, which he will enter 14 points behind Rosberg. Despite his formidable record Hamilton says his focus has to be on cutting the gap to his title rival.
"It's not any more important than any other race," Hamilton said. "I take every race as seriously as any other. This race is an opportunity to gain. I'm chasing, I've been on the backfoot since race one, and I'm enjoying that battle. If I can close up the gap at all this weekend then that would be a huge positive going into the break, and into the second half of the season when it's time to attack."
After Budapest victories in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2013, Hamilton will overtake Michael Schumacher as the most successful Hungarian Grand Prix driver if he wins again on Sunday, though he does not put his success down to one specific trait.
"i don't really have an answer as to why things have gone so well over here over the years. It's a great circuit. I really do enjoy driving it. Maybe it does suit my driving style more than perhaps some other circuits. Maybe it's luck I don't know. Let's see this weekend. As you know I've not had a lot of luck this year. If I'm still up ahead then you know it's not luck, and it's down to driving style."
Despite his weekend being jeopardized by a qualifying brake failure at Hockenheim but he insists he has put that he has to put that behind him to ensure he performs to his best.
"I'll push them harder then ever!" Hamilton joked about his brakes. "I had new brakes on Sunday and I pushed them as hard as ever as always, and i plan to do the same this weekend. As a racing driver you have to have 100%confidence in your team, and even though I had that issue on Saturday, immediately the next day I had 100% confidence in the car.
"You can never have doubt in the car, safety-wise particularly, otherwise that will hold you back massively. So I'm going in there 100%."
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