Formula 1's world tour rolls into Budapest for this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the 11th race of 22 on the calendar.
Max Verstappen arrives as hot favourite having extended his winning streak to six races at Silverstone last time. The Red Bull driver won at the Hungaroring last year despite starting tenth on the grid and having a mid-race spin.
Verstappen is 1/3 to win the race on Sunday, with his team-mate Sergio Perez and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso next in the market, both at 11/1.
Fernando Alonso podium finish @ 1/1
Esteban Ocon top-six finish @ 6/1
Both Alpine points finish @ 7/4
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
After two races at fast, flowing circuits, the engineers will have to set the cars up completely differently for Hungaroring, where a nimble machine is much more important than raw power and top speed.
The turns come thick and fast around the 4.4km circuit and we may see a different pecking order from what happened in Austria and Silverstone.
While Verstappen has carried all before him this year, the field behind him has been super competitive.
In the last four races, drivers from four different teams have stood on the second step of the podium and the race to be best of the rest looks an open one again.
What | Hungarian Grand Prix |
Where | Hungaroring, Budapest |
When | 14:00 Sunday 23rd July |
How to watch | Sky Sports F1 |
Odds | Max Verstappen 1/3, Fernando Alonso 11/1, Sergio Perez 11/1, Lewis Hamilton 14/1, Lando Norris 16/1 |
Veteran Fernando Alonso's decision to join Aston Martin for this season raised a few eyebrows. But it looked an inspired move as the Spaniard picked up five podium finishes in the first six races of the season.
The two-time world champion has had a leaner time in recent races, with his second place in Canada his only podium appearance in the last four races, but the Hungaroring should suit the car better.
The Aston Martin's strength is in accelerating away from slow corners, and there are plenty of those on the Budapest track.
All the teams have been aggressively developing their cars recently and Aston appear to have lost some ground in that period. But Alonso was able to press Verstappen in Monaco while keeping a long way clear of the chasing pack so he should be strong enough to push for a podium at another tight and twisty circuit.
The even-money on offer implies there's a 50-50 chance Alonso will crack the top three, but the outcome looks more likely than that.
Alpine have slipped below McLaren in the constructors' championship standings, and the French squad will want to put a nightmare race at Silverstone firmly behind them. But they have a good chance to bounce back at a track that should play to their strengths.
Esteban Ocon suffered a hydraulic failure in Britain, while team-mate Pierre Gasly's car was damaged in a clash with Lance Stroll's Aston Martin.
That was the first time this season that any team has failed to get either of its cars home, but they have cause for optimism this weekend.
Ocon was an unlikely winner in Hungary in 2021, in a race that was notable for a first-corner pile-up that put some big names out of contention.
However, he held off a determined challenge from Sevastian Vettel in that race, while Lewis Hamilton's recovery was delayed by Alonso's robust defending in the other Alpine.
Ocon also finished a brilliant third in Monaco this year at the only circuit with a comparable layout to Budapest.
The lanky Frenchman could prove a big price at 6/1 to finish the race in the top six.
While the form of most of the field has varied greatly from week to week, Alpine have been one of the most consistent performers.
Ocon has finished four races in eighth or ninth position, while Gasly has six finishes between seventh and tenth position.
There generally hasn't been much between the drivers either, suggesting they are both getting the best out of the car.
Although both Alpines have come home in the points in only four races, they have also suffered more than their share of bad luck. Other than one disastrous weekend in Azerbaijan the potential has clearly been there for both to finish in the top ten at pretty every race weekend.
It is encouraging that Gasly backed up Ocon's Monaco podium with his own best result of the season, in seventh place, and the 7/4 available for both cars to score points again this weekend looks generous.
Fernando Alonso podium finish @ 1/1
Esteban Ocon top-six finish @ 6/1
Both Alpine points finish @ 7/4
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
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