Hamilton back in F1 title hunt after Hungary win

LEWIS HAMILTON is 11-2 from 11-1 to win the F1 drivers title after a lights-to-flag victory in yesterday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Briton was an evens chance for victory after securing pole and held off the challenges of Lotus pair Romain Grosjean and eventual runner-up Kimi Raikkonen to secure his second win of the season.

The McLaren man moved up to fourth in the table, but is 47 points behind leader Fernando Alonso, who could finish only fifth but extended his championship lead to an imposing 40 points – the equivalent of a race win and a third place.

With McLaren apparently confirming that their recent upgrades have taken them to the front of the pack on pace, Alonso has nevertheless drifted to 11-10 for the world title having been odds-on last week.

Red Bull duo Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finished fourth and eighth, suggesting that recent technical clampdowns by the FIA have indeed had an effect on their pace.

Hamilton is 11-4 to pick up where he left off with another victory in the next race in Belgium when the teams return from their summer break.

Bet365 quote Hamilton at 5-6 to win at least three more of the nine remaining events, while Hills go 2-1 that he wins only once more.

Belgian Grand Prix (September 2) – best prices: 11-4 L Hamilton (Blue Sq), 4 S Vettel (general), 6 F Alonso (BVic, Lads), 13-2 K Raikkonen (b365), 9 R Gorsjean (b365, BVic), 10 M Webber (Lads), 11 J Button (b365, BVic), 33 bar.
bet365 – Hamilton 2012 race wins (two so far): 5-6 five or more; 5-6 four or fewer.
Hills – Hamilton victories in final nine races: 3 none, 2 one, 11-4 two, 5 three, 10 four, 20 five or more.