Hamilton on the brink of more F1 records - Hungarian GP stats

The Hungarian Grand Prix is the final hurrah for F1 before the sport enters its summer shutdown.

On the calendar since 1986, the race is a modern classic even if overtaking is often at a premium.

But who do the stats favour heading into the weekend?

Hamilton the Hungarian master

Lewis Hamilton has scored a record-equalling eight poles at the Hungaroring. This ties him with Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher for most poles at a single track, with the pair achieving the feat at Imola and Suzuka respectively.

The Mercedes driver has also scored eight poles in Melbourne.

On top of his Saturday success, Hamilton jointly holds the record for the most wins at a single track, with his eight in Hungary and at Silverstone level with Schumacher's success at former French Grand Prix venue, Magny-Cours.

Hamilton to win at being second best?

No driver wants to be remembered for being second best and that certainly won't be the case with Hamilton after his glittering career.

But following his P2 in the last race in France, he has now finished as the runner-up on 49 occasions in F1. One more would see him become the first driver to reach the milestone of 50 second-place finishes.

Pole no guarantee of Sunday success

A Mercedes-powered car has started from pole in eight of the last 10 Hungarian Grands Prix.

But despite there being just 21 passes at the track nicknamed 'Monaco without walls' since 2017, starting at the front does not guarantee a victory as only three of the races in the hybrid era have been won by the pole-sitter.

But if a driver is not on pole, third is the target on Saturday as that grid slot has produced eight wins compared to the six from second.

McLaren and Ferrari have the most pole positions at this venue with eight apiece.

Mercedes' miltestone

Mercedes rejoined the grid as a manufacturer in 2010 after taking over the title-winning Brawn GP team.

This weekend will be the team's 250th event since returning to the fold.

Red Bull and Verstappen hoodoo

Red Bull has only taken victory in Hungary twice - topping the order with Mark Webber in 2010 and most recently with Daniel Ricciardo in 2014.

Max Verstappen is yet to win at the Hungaroring and has started from the front row just once, in 2019. It was his first pole in F1.

Podium familiarity

Verstappen and Hamilton have shared the podium on three occasions this year -Canada, Austria and France - recording their 30th one-two result in France last weekend.

Only the driver pairing of Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have more one-twos in F1 with 31.

Championship omens

Since the turn of the millennium, the driver who has won the Hungarian GP has gone on to take the drivers' title on only five occasions.

Conversely, the team leading the constructors’ standings after Hungary has won the championship in each of the last 14 years.

Leclerc lacks form

In four previous visits, Charles Leclerc has finished in the points just once, taking fourth place in 2019, his first year with Ferrari.

Alpine break stranglehold

Esteban Ocon became the fifth driver to score his maiden F1 victory at Hungary in last year's dramatic race. It was the first time in the hybrid era a team other than Mercedes, Red Bull or Ferrari had stood on the Hungarian podium.

Ocon's Alpine team-mate Alonso also took his first win in Hungary, topping the order in 2003. He has scored in each race he has entered at the track since 2010.

Miscellaneous Hungarian GP stats

The Hungarian GP has been on the F1 calendar ever since its inception in 1986.

With an average speed of 210 kph, the Hungaroring is one of the slowest circuits of the season.

Zsolt Baumgartner remains the only Hungarian to have competed in F1.

Sundaram Ramaswami -Twitter/Instagram - @f1statsguru

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