HAMILTON, VERSTAPPEN WAR INTENSIFIES AHEAD OF HUNGARY GP

The battle for this season's Formula One championship title continues to heat up and this weekend it's all systems go for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen leads the standings with 185 points, ahead of Lewis Hamilton with 177 and Lando Norris is in third with 113.

Verstappen saw his lead atop the standings cut after he did not finish the British GP following a collision with eventual winner Hamilton.

The seven-time world champion received a 10-second penalty but still managed to cruise to victory, overtaking Charles Leclerc's Ferrari which led most of the race.

F1 will revert back to its regular schedule this weekend, with two practice sessions on Friday each lasting 60 minutes, before an additional practice session also running for one hour on Saturday.

Max Verstappen took his first pole position here in 2019 (on the same track his Dad had his first podium in 1994), Dany Kvyat had his first podium (2nd in 2015) and Mark Webber, in 2009, had his first fastest lap.

Clearly an iconic track for RedBull, who come into this Sunday's race hoping to continue their imperial form that has seen them take charge of the constructors standings as well.

At the last Grand Prix in Hungary, the podium was a familiar one as Lewis Hamilton emerged victorious ahead of Verstappen, whilst the other Mercedes of Valtterri Bottas came in third.

Budapest is set for hot and sunny weather conditions throughout the race weekend, with hot spells to start on Friday before cloudy weather and a chance of thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday.

Hamilton has recorded the most wins in Hungary and will be pushing for a record-extending ninth win at the Hungaroring.