Hamilton on track for Hungary record

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Lewis Hamilton can become the first driver to win three successive Hungarian Grands Prix when Formula One heads to Hungaroring on Sunday.

Hamilton has won back-to-back races in Budapest - a feat shared with past champions such as Nelson Piquet (1986-87), Ayrton Senna (1991-92), Jacques Villeneuve (1996-97) and Mika Hakkinen (1999-00).

Victory for the Mercedes driver would see him become the first man to win three on the trot in Hungary, while it would also make him the most successful driver at the Hungaroring, with the British competitor locked on four wins alongside F1 icon Michael Schumacher.

If that was not motivation enough, his head-to-head battle with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg for the drivers' championship should do the trick.

Hamilton (176 points) is second behind Rosberg (190) in the fight for the world title after finishing third at last week's race in Germany.

With nine races remaining, two-time world champion Hamilton understands the importance of winning in Hungary.

"It's going to be important, as always, to regain points," the 29-year-old said.

"As you can see, anything can happen in a weekend, so I don't know what's going to happen in the next one. I'll take it as it comes."

Another Brit to have enjoyed success at the Hungarian GP is McLaren rival Jenson Button.

Button emerged triumphant in 2006 and 2011, but form is against the 2009 world champion having only stepped up on the podium once this season.

The 34-year-old, who was eighth last week and is eighth in the drivers' standings, has not won a race since taking out the Brazilian GP in 2012.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo (106) and Fernando Alonso (97) of Ferrari - third and fourth respectively in the race for the title - are obvious candidates following their performances in Germany.

But the one to watch is Finn Valtteri Bottas.

The Williams driver has finished second in his past two races to surge up to fifth in the drivers' standings, just six points adrift of Spaniard Alonso.

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