Relentless F1 schedule continues in Hungary this weekend

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton could go head-to-head again this weekend as F1 prepares for the third race in as many weeks, this time at the Hungaroring in Budapest, Hungary.

After back-to-back races at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, both of which were won by Brackley-built Mercedes cars, the teams take on the high-downforce circuit where it is notoriously difficult to pass. The track layout negates much of the power advantage Mercedes appear to have, but they are likely to remain the class of the field, having looked in imperious form in Spielberg.

Verstappen looked on course to take victory at the race last season but a late charge from Hamilton on fresh tyres saw the Mercedes man catch and pass to claim his seventh win in Budapest - more than any other driver. It was also the final race at Red Bull Racing for Pierre Gasly, who was replaced at the next round by Alex Albon.

Silverstone's Racing Point flexed their muscles in what fans have dubbed the 'pink Mercedes' after they admitted to using Mercedes' 2019 W10 as inspiration for their 2020 contender. Despite qualifying poorly in the wet, Sergio Perez was battling Albon for fourth but clipped the Thai driver, damaging his front wing and dropped behind Lando Norris into sixth at the final corner of the last lap. Team-mate Lance Stroll finished just behind in seventh after a bold, if aggressive move on Daniel Ricciardo.

But their cars were formally protested by Renault in the aftermath of the Styrian Grand Prix, with their brake ducts drawing particular focus as the Enstone outfit suspect collusion between Racing Point and Mercedes. But the protest will not be heard for several weeks as the hectic schedule sees them out on track, but the team remain confident they have done nothing wrong.