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BUDAPEST. — Defending champion Lewis Hamilton faces a demanding and sweaty battle with his championship-leading Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg and a potentially-rampant Red Bull team as he seeks a decisive victory at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 31-year-old Briton, who is also aiming to complete a hat-trick of successive wins after triumphs in Austria and his home British event, can overhaul Rosberg’s one-point lead in the title race with his first win in Hungary since 2013.

But he knows that the tight, twisting and, often, swelteringly hot Hungaroring circuit has not been kind to him, or Mercedes, in recent years as he bids for a record fifth success. He currently shares the record for most wins at the track with seven-time champion Michael Schumacher. Both have won four times.

“The past couple of years, I haven’t had the smoothest of weekends at Budapest,” said Hamilton whose last win in Hungary was in 2013. “But I know I’ve got the pace, so I’m gunning to turn that around this time. I have incredible support there so I can’t wait to get out the track. Ever since the low of Barcelona this year, I have been able to cultivate this really strong mental attitude.” — AFP.