Ferrari starved of success in F1’s power battle

Formula 1's balance of power has shifted with Lewis Hamilton's emphatic victory at Silverstone, paving the way for a possible new championship leader as the paddock heads into the summer break.

Although Ferrari entered this year's campaign in the best form witnessed from the Scuderia in recent times with Sebastian Vettel initially matching Mercedes win for win, it is the Brackley squad who have slowed etched ahead culminating in Hamilton's British GP 'grand slam' of pole position, fastest lap and race win.

While Mercedes have recovered from the banning of their trick suspension system, which they were forced to alter ahead of the season-opening Australian GP, Ferrari have yet to rebound after oil burning was banned ahead of the Azerbaijan GP.

As such, while Mercedes are finding form, Vettel – and Ferrari – have not won a grand prix since May's Monaco 1-2 and risk losing the lead in the Drivers' Championship to Hamilton in Hungary.

The Brit will arrive on the grid chasing a record sixth Hungarian GP win while Vettel is going for just his second with the German’s total podium count – four – fewer than Hamilton’s number of wins.

Should the Mercedes driver add that sixth win to his tally he will take the lead in the Drivers' standings for the first time this season with last year's Hungarian win also handing him the lead in the standings.

But while Hamilton's summer break lead came to naught last year, with Vettel having to deny that Ferrari are in a crisis, there is a feeling that should he hit the front this year momentum will be firmly in his favour.

The attention may be the title protagonists but perhaps it is behind them that the best battles – at least on the track – are expected to erupt this Sunday.

Having stood on the Hungaroring's podium three years running, Daniel Ricciardo – the 2014 winner – has every confidence that he can add a fourth to the list but could find himself having to battle Max Verstappen for that. The Dutchman's awful luck finally turned at Silverstone where he was P4, one place ahead of Ricciardo.

Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull may have locked out the top-three in Hungary the past three years running but prior to that it was Lotus, formerly Renault and Renault again, who stepped onto the podium.

Nico Hulkenberg shone for the team last time out in Britain, fifth on the grid and sixth at the flag leading Renault to predict that they could be in for yet another strong showing this weekend – and maybe even a double points finish if Jolyon Palmer – once again rumoured to be in his final F1 race – can get it together.

However, given the nature of the Hungaroring – "the short, twisty circuit means we are less reliant on outright power, and the drivers have to really depend on the capabilities of the chassis to get the best out of the lap" says Fernando Alonso – McLaren also believe this could be the stage for their best result of the campaign.

But then again so too do Force India, Williams, Toro Rosso, Haas and Sauber…

Michelle Foster