Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying predictions and F1 betting tips

Free F1 tips, best bets and analysis for the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session in Budapest on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports F1, 2pm, Saturday

Best bet

Lewis Hamilton fastest qualifier
1pt 13-8 bet365

Preview

The fallout from Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's collision at Silverstone two weeks ago continues to rain down, but thankfully Mercedes and Red Bull can do their talking on the track once again in Budapest this weekend.

Hamilton ended a winless run of four races after coming off best in the first-lap tangle in the British Grand Prix, while Verstappen was lucky to emerge unscathed from his shattered Red Bull.

Seven-time champion Hamilton overcame a ten-second penalty for the collision to win and cut his deficit in the title race to eight points, while Red Bull's attempts to secure a harsher punishment for the British racer have been unsuccessful.

It was advantage Mercedes after Friday practice at a roasting Hungaroring, as Valtteri Bottas pipped Hamilton to the fastest time of the day, while Verstappen struggled to get his car handling as he would like it.

The Dutch ace is still favourite to take pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix, though.

Verstappen has started from pole at the last four races, although in Britain last time that was a result of his winning the inaugural sprint qualifying race. He had been beaten into second by Hamilton in the traditional qualifying session on the Friday.

Budapest will stay hot on Saturday, but there are expected to be thunderstorms in the area and around a 50 per cent chance of rain come qualifying. Not that that would faze Hamilton or Verstappen.

The Dutchman claimed his first F1 pole position at this circuit in 2019, but Hamilton is the master of the Hungaroring, with eight race wins there.

The Mercedes were three-tenths of a second faster than Verstappen in practice, but on long runs the gap was 0.9 seconds, and it looks like Red Bull are on the back foot.

Ferrari have shone at circuits with low-speed corners this season, Charles Leclerc going fastest in qualifying at Monaco and Baku. However, while the Hungaroring is certainly a twisty circuit, modern car advances mean most of the turns are now medium to high speed.

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