Hungry Ricciardo could force his way on to podium

Hungarian Grand Prix
Sky Sports F1, 1pm Sunday

Top tip
Daniel Ricciardo podium finish 3-1
If Lewis Hamilton is to win the Hungarian Grand Prix for the sixth time he will have to do so from fourth on the grid after a difficult qualifying session.

He managed that in 2009, helped by a spectacular start, but it doesn't look worth backing Hamilton to repeat the feat, even at odds of 8-1.

The Briton slashed Sebastian Vettel's championship advantage from 20 points to one with his British Grand Prix victory last time, but Ferrari stormed to their third front-row lockout of the season.

Vettel claimed his second pole position of the campaign having looked in control throughout qualifying as well as topping the final practice, and the four-time world champion is a heavily odds-on favourite to match Hamilton's record of four wins this season.

Vettel and teammate Kimi Raikkonen had the race between them the last time they shared the front row, in Monaco, but on the previous occasion in Russia, Valtteri Bottas scorched into the lead from third on the grid and remained there.

The Ferrari men will be wary of the in-form Finn at a circuit which features the fourth-longest run to the first corner, as Bottas once again starts third.

Daniel Ricciardo was bitterly disappointed to qualify sixth after setting the pace on Friday, his preparations having been disrupted by issues in final practice.

The Australian won at the Hungaroring with a forceful drive in 2014 and has vowed to get his elbows out in the race, and he could be worth a bet to make the podium.

Despite his Saturday problems Ricciardo qualified less than a tenth of a second behind his teammate Max Verstappen and just over a tenth behind Hamilton.

High fuel running on Friday suggested the Red Bulls, boasting several upgrades for this race, may be able to challenge Mercedes for race pace, as they did at Monaco on a similarly twisty circuit.

Other markets
Lewis Hamilton no podium finish 13-8
McLaren double points finish 6-4
A downbeat Lewis Hamilton spoke to the press after he qualified fourth behind both Ferraris and his teammate Valtteri Bottas and it could be worth betting the three-time world champion is unable to improve his starting position in the race.

Brilliant though he is when contending for victories, Hamilton does have a tendency to switch off when winning isn't possible.

He had a particularly anonymous race in Russia earlier this year when he started and finished fourth.

Bottas shows no such tendency and finished a fantastic second at Silverstone after starting ninth. In flying form and starting third, Bottas could be more likely to challenge the Ferraris while Hamilton could find his hands full with two quick and feisty Red Bulls starting behind him.

McLaren have long targeted this race as one where they can score big points.

Punters who followed Racing Post Sports's advice to take the early 7-2 about Fernando Alonso finishing in the top six have at least got the value, as the Spaniard is now 11-10 in that market from seventh on the grid.

His young teammate Stoffel Vandoorne starts one place behind in eighth, and with Williams and Force India seemingly not as competitive as usual on the twisty circuit they could easily both pick up points.

Reliability was a concern earlier in the season but Vandoorne has finished the last four races while Alonso has a number of fresh parts this weekend having conked out almost within sight of the flag at Silverstone.

Recommendations
D Ricciardo podium finish
1pt 3-1 general
L Hamilton no podium finish
1pt 13-8 bet365
McLaren double points finish
1pt 6-4 bet365

Already advised
F Alonso top-six finish
1pt 7-2 July 28