Formula 1: Top Three favourites to win Hungarian GP 2023

Defending World Champion Max Verstappen is the outright top pick.

As the 2023 Formula 1 season approaches its midpoint, all eyes are now set on the Hungarian GP 2023, a race which has proven to be challenging for many teams in the past due to the lack of DRS zones and tight corners. And with the British GP finally proving that other teams like McLaren are closing the gap with Red Bull, let’s take a closer look at the top three favourites to win the Hungarian GP 2023.

3. Lewis Hamilton

Although Mercedes hasn’t had the best of seasons, Lewis Hamilton’s sheer dominance in the Hungarian Grand Prix cannot be overlooked. The British driver currently holds the record for winning the race eight times, and based on his performance at Silverstone, the Hungarian GP 2023 could be a turning point for Hamilton, offering him a chance to claim his first victory of the season.

Furthermore, Mercedes is bringing a significant upgrade package to the front wing, enhancing the car’s ability to manoeuvre through slow corners. This improvement could help the W14 narrow the gap with Red Bull, especially considering that the RB19 is not well-suited for the Hungarian circuit.

“Now, Silverstone is famous for lots of things, but lots and lots of slow corners is not one of them. What we took as comfort from Silverstone is that in the slower parts of the track, we were looking pretty decently competitive,” said Mercedes technical director James Allison.

2. Lando Norris

It’s no secret that at the start of the F1 2023 season, McLaren was quite possibly the slowest car on track, thanks in part due to the developmental issues the team faced. However, McLaren’s progress at the British GP was extraordinary, as the team not only outperformed Mercedes, but Lando Norris also fiercely fought for the lead with Max Verstappen.

Although Max eventually secured the lead, Norris never took away the pressure from him, demonstrating that McLaren was the second-fastest car on the track.

As the Hungarian GP 2023 approaches, McLaren plans to introduce major upgrades aimed at improving their overall car pace, potentially making Lando Norris a formidable contender to the reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

1. Max Verstappen

While McLaren’s progress is astounding, it comes as no surprise that Max Verstappen has shown extraordinary dominance in the 2023 season, making him the favourite to win the Hungarian GP 2023. And although the RB19 is not suited for the Hungarian circuit, Red Bull is preparing significant upgrades for the car’s side pods, which could potentially provide a significant two-tenths speed advantage - a significant boost in Formula 1 terms.

With this upgrade, Max aims to solidify his position as the front-runner in the championship battle and make Red Bull the only team to win 12 races in a row.