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Record-chasing Lewis Hamilton credits 'attacking' style for past Hungarian GP glory

Briton aiming for fifth Hungaroring win to overhaul Schumacher

Image: Lewis Hamilton: Claimed his first win for Mercedes in Hungary in 2013

Lewis Hamilton admits his “attacking” style is perfectly suited to the Hungaroring, as he goes in search of a record fifth victory at the circuit this weekend.

The 29-year-old has an enviable F1 record in Budapest having won on four of his seven visits, including the last two years, and never qualified or finished outside of the top five.

Hamilton’s fourth victory last year - the first of his Mercedes career - tied Michael Schumacher’s all-time record, and despite currently trailing team-mate Nico Rosberg by 14 points in the championship, the Briton is the bookies’ favourite for another Hungarian win on Sunday.

And while insisting there is no fundamental secret to his past successes there, Hamilton acknowledges that the tight and twisty circuit – which has been routinely likened in layout to a go-kart track – plays to his strengths.

“I don’t really have any secrets there… just been fortunate in that race, great support there as usual with the fans and a circuit I really enjoy,” the Mercedes driver said.

“It’s a circuit where you can really attack, it works for an attacking driver like myself so perhaps it suits my driving style a little bit more than some others, maybe.”

Lewis Hamilton won on his Hungaroring F1 debut in 2007
Image: Hamilton won on his Hungaroring F1 debut in 2007

Record attempts aside, the importance of the 2014 edition of the Hungarian GP for Hamilton is increased by the events of last weekend in Germany when he lost more ground to sole title rival Rosberg after a brake disc failure in qualifying effectively ended his chances of beating the sister Mercedes in the race.

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All the thrills and spills from a scintillating German Grand Prix.

And with Sunday’s race the final one before the August summer break, Hamilton admitted: “Undoubtedly it’s going to be important, as it is always, to regain points.

“But as you’ve seen, anything can happen during the weekend and so I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next one.

"I’ll just take it as it comes.”

Hamilton at the Hungaroring

2007 - McLaren
Qualified: Pole, Finished: 1st.
2008 - McLaren
Qualified: Pole, Finished 5th.
2009 - McLaren
Qualified: Fourth, Finished 1st.
2010 - McLaren
Qualified: Fifth, Finished: DNF.
2011 - McLaren
Qualified: 2nd, Finished 4th.
2012 - McLaren
Qualified: Pole; Finished 1st
2013 - Mercedes
Qualified: Pole; Finished 1st.

Watch this weekend’s Hungarian GP LIVE ONLY on Sky Sports F1. Extensive coverage from the Hungaroring begins with Practice on Friday from 8.45am 

during the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix at the Hungaroring on July 26, 2009 in Budapest, Hungary.
Image: Riding the kerbs en-route to victory for McLaren in 2009

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