After the high-speed sweeps of rainy Silverstone last time there is a complete contrast for this week's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Only the streets of Monaco offer a more twisty, technical challenge than the Hungaroring, just outside Budapest.
Red Bull again dominated the early rounds this year and three-time world champion Max Verstappen is the hot favourite to win his eighth race of the season.
However, the competition has really hotted up recently, with the last seven races featuring five different winners. And the battle at the front is expected to be red hot once again at a scorching Hungaroring this weekend.
- GEORGE RUSSELL TO WIN
- CHARLES LECLERC PODIUM FINISH
- PIERRE GASLY POINTS FINISH
Russell Could Keep Merc Streak Going
For the first time since the back end of 2021, Mercedes have won consecutive races, and the streak may be over yet.
Lewis Hamilton demonstrated why he's a seven-time world champion with a masterful drive to victory in changing conditions at Silverstone last time.
The 39-year-old ended a two-and-a-half-year drought to claim his ninth win at the historic circuit. That set a new record for number of F1 wins at the same track, but Hamilton has a chance to repeat the feat this weekend, as he is an eight-time winner at the Hungaroring.
However, preference is for his team-mate George Russell. The King's Lynn racer took pole position in Budapest in 2022, and has also topped qualifying at two of the last four races.
He was a somewhat fortunate winner in Austria, cashing in when Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris collided while fighting for the lead late on. But Russell felt he could have won in Montreal previously.
Russell led in the early stages at Silverstone, but was unable to handle treacherous conditions as well as Hamilton. He was still very much in contention when his Mercedes developed a race-ending issue, though.
The younger man has generally been the stronger performer of the two Mercedes drivers this year, and looks the one to side with.
GEORGE RUSSELL TO WIN
Bet On The Hungarian GP Here
Leclerc Set For Better Fortunes
Charles Leclerc finally ended his long wait for a home victory at Monaco in May, but nothing has gone right for him or his Ferrari team in the four races since then.
Engine trouble, collision damage and baffling strategy decisions have hampered Leclerc's recent results, while the team's latest upgrade did not work as planned.
The deficiencies of the car's new floor should not be such an issue at the low-speed Hungaroring, though, while the car excels around slow corners.
A third win of the year could prove beyond the Scuderia, but Leclerc's recent woes have contributed to his odds becoming attractive for a sixth podium finish of the year.
CHARLES LECLERC PODIUM FINISH
Gasly Can Pick Up More Points
The British Grand Prix was a weekend to forget for Pierre Gasly.
Hit with a 50-place grid penalty for changing mechanical parts, Gasly's Alpine then broke down before he even reached the start on race day.
However, that disaster ended a run of four consecutive points finishes for the Frenchman, and he is worth backing to resume that kind of form in Hungary.
PIERRE GASLY POINTS FINISH
