Budapest (AFP)

From the Red Bull Ring to the Hungaroring: after two first races in two weeks on the Austrian track, F1 is racing this weekend in Hungary, on a circuit on which Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are used to shining.

After a comeback inside two weeks ago in Austria, sanctioned by two penalties and only fourth place, the Briton set the record straight the following week by offering himself with ease pole position and victory on a circuit which is not one of his favorites.

On the Budapest Hungaroring, it's a whole different story: since his debut in 2007 (thirteen seasons), the six-time world champion has won there seven times - a record - and has signed six poles.

Only Michael Schumacher did better with seven leading positions, but this is another record from German legend that the Mercedes driver is aiming for this year: that of seven world titles.

Winner of the first Grand Prix in 2020 and second in the following, his Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas occupies first place in the championship, with six points ahead, but the paddock almost unanimously expects to see this situation quickly reversed after the third round of the season, still run behind closed doors because of the new coronavirus pandemic.

To stand on the road of the British, we expect a lot from Max Verstappen but the Dutchman estimated at the end of the two Austrian races that his Red Bull was "just not fast enough" to beat the Mercedes.

On a route that uses aerodynamic downforce more than engine power, can the outcome be different? In any case, Verstappen won his first pole position in F1 last year, before being beaten by Hamilton on a strategic stroke.

- "Triple header" -

Another strong image of the last GP of Styria, much less glorious, however, than the arch-dominance of Hamilton: the clash from the first lap between the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.

After receiving an apology from his Monegasque teammate, the German assured that the two were "mature enough" to put the incident behind them.

Even if they succeed, the Scuderia has not left the inn: especially in qualifying, its SF1000 is outdistanced not only by Mercedes and Red Bull but also by Racing Point, McLaren and Renault.

"We know that the performance level of our car is not up to our expectations or those of our fans, admits the main team Mattia Binotto. But we are working very hard at all levels to progress as quickly as possible . "

This is essential so that Leclerc's second place during an inaugural GP enamelled with abandonment does not remain exceptional.

Fatigue, finally, could make the difference this weekend. Not so much that of the pilots but that of their teams, on deck for almost three weeks.

The first "triple header" (three races in as many weeks) in the history of F1 in the summer of 2018 had left the staff of the teams bloodless, but it was another time.

The season had started several months ago and it had been necessary to swallow many kilometers between France, Austria and Great Britain. This time, the championship started more than three months late due to the Covid-19 and only 400 km separate the Red Bull Ring from the Hungaroring.

© 2020 AFP