Lewis Hamilton Predicted to Win Three in a Row: Hungarian GP Preview

The Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring has held a Formula One event since 1986, and the 2008 event marks its 22nd anniversary.

We go to Budapest with the Championship a little more spread out than the last time around, yet only seven points separate the top three drivers. Let's take a look at the standings:

Driver	Team	Points
Lewis Hamilton	McLaren Mercedes	58
Felipe Massa	Ferrari	54
Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	51
Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	48
Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	41
Heikki Kovalainen	McLaren Mercedes	28

Lewis Hamilton heads the table with 58 points following his two back-to-back victories at Silverstone and the Hockenheimring.

Massa has fallen off of the pace a little bit, losing out on a second place finish to Nelson Piquet in Germany and finishing dead last (excl. retirements) in Britain.

The world champion is having a testing time at present, the Finn struggling with the handling of the F2008. 

The BMWs aren't looking as competitive as they did earlier on in the season but the rumour around the paddock is that they are concentrating on 2009.

Finally, Heikki Kovalainen is very far behind the leaders. He is showing progress though. He got the pole at Silverstone and set the fastest time in the Jerez test earlier this week.

The constructors championship seems to be doing the opposite to the drivers' standings. Instead of spreading out, points standings are beginning to close up.

Team	Points
Ferrari	105
BMW Sauber	89
McLaren Mercedes	86

Ferrari looked to have the championship wrapped up a couple of months ago and BMW and McLaren were expected to battle it out for second place.

However, McLaren have come good and close to snatching position from BMW. Can they close up on Ferrari and take the championship? Although the odds are very high, all McLaren need is two retirements from Ferrari and a one-two finish to close the gap down to just two points.

There is a very interesting battle going on in the midfield at the moment also.

Team	Points
Toyota	25
Red Bull Racing	24
Renault	23

This is the battle for third place.

The Toyota and Red Bull teams have been making good progress since the start of the season and both have scored podiums this season.

Renault have found their footing also, with Nelson Piquet, Jr. driving superbly to hold onto second place in Germany.

It will be an interesting battle in the midfield, one we must observe closely until the end of the season.

So we move on to round 11 of the F1 world championship. The Hungaroring has staged 21 Formula One races. There have been many memorable victories, including Thierry Boutsen holding off Senna by 0.2 seconds and also Jenson Button taking his maiden victory in 2006.

Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary
Laps	70
Lap Length	2.722 miles
Fastest Lap	1.19:071- Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004
2007 pole	Lewis Hamilton*
2007 winner	Lewis Hamilton

* Fernando Alonso set the fastest lap but was demoted five places on the grid for holding up Lewis Hamilton in the pit lane.

In 2008, with the championship as wide open as it is, any of the top four drivers could win the race. It's so very close.

The drivers, I think, must get good qualifying positions and they can't afford to run wide at turn one. There is a massive build up of sand there and the racing line must be kept. The first turn could also cause some early retirements.

So then, chaps and chapesses'...predictions:

Personally, I think Lewis will make it three in a row. He has been untouchable in the previous rounds and certainly has the car and ability to get a hat trick of wins.

I don't think there will be any shocking results in Hungary. Massa and Raikkonen will take second and third respectively, with Nick Heidfeld fourth.

Robert Kubica will finish just behind his teammate and Mark Webber will score some decent points ahead of Kovalainen.

Sebastien Vettel will round out the top eight, doing well in the Toro Rosso again.

1. Lewis Hamilton

2. Felipe Massa

3. Kimi Raikkonen

4. Nick Heidfeld

5. Robert Kubica

6. Mark Webber

7. Heikki Kovalainen

8. Sebastien Vettel

What do you think? Tell me your thoughts in the comment and don't forget to rate the article!