Mercedes eye F1 competition in Hungary

Just one point now separates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in the Formula 1 championship standings. Hamilton's four wins in the last five races, during which time Rosberg has only finished on the podium twice, have almost annulled Rosberg's commanding early lead.

"Ever since the low of Barcelona I've been able to cultivate this really strong mental attitude and I'm really feeling that fire inside me right now," Hamilton said. "Of course I have good days and bad days like everyone else. But whatever the case, I'm able to turn negatives into positives when it counts."

Hamilton, four times a winner in Hungary, called it "a track that for some reason has always suited my style," but Rosberg also sought to strike an optimistic note at a circuit where he has yet to win a race.

"I am leading the world championship coming up to the halfway point of the season and there's still a long way to go. The battle is on with Lewis and I'm feeling great in myself and great in the car, so bring it on," Rosberg said.

A happy Red Bull hunting ground?

In Hungary, Mercedes may face their toughest challenge yet from rival teams - which are yet to beat the Silver Arrows on pure pace this season. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has his eyes on the nimble Red Bulls in particular.

"We will need to be flawless to come out on top this weekend," Wolff said. "This track plays to the strengths of our rivals. The Red Bull car, for example, functions well where high drag isn't penalized as much as at other circuits. So, in wet conditions and at low-speed circuits such as the Hungaroring, they are a major threat."

The undulating, narrow Hungaroring circuit is sometimes described as "Monaco without the barriers." With only one notable straight, and an abundance of low- and medium-speed corners, the circuit naturally negates Red Bull's primary plight: their lack of horsepower and straight-line speed.

Mercedes have not won at the Hungaroring since Lewis Hamilton claimed his fourth win at the circuit in 2013. Sebastian Vettel triumphed for Ferrari last season, with the Red Bulls hot on his heels in second and third. Youngster Max Verstappen, then with Toro Rosso and now at Red Bull, had a spectacular outing climbing to fourth position.

"I always enjoy driving there because it's a small track with a big car so it gives a bit of a go kart feeling," Verstappen said of the circuit. "It's also pretty tough due to all the turns, so you don't really get a chance to rest and usually end up pretty sweaty in the heat. Sector 2 is my favorite part of the track, it's all about hitting the apex of one corner right so you are in the right position for the next one. If you get it wrong, it's a big time penalty, so you need to be really focused."

Thirty years on

Hungary celebrates its pearl F1 anniversary this weekend, as the grid competes exactly 30 years after the inaugural race outside Budapest. The 1986 Hungarian Grand Prix was F1's first foray behind the Iron Curtain, although several former Soviet states including Russia are now on the modern calendar.

Some 200,000 spectators turned out for the inaugural event; far fewer are likely to attend (paying much more for the privilege) this year. Fans were treated to a classic race - and one of the most memorable overtaking moves in the sport's history - at the 1986 Hungarian GP. Race-winner Nelson Piquet forced his way around the outside of his younger countryman, a man by the name of Ayrton Senna, to claim the lead, then holding an impossible power-slide in his turbocharged Williams into Turn 1. The win contributed to Piquet's third and final world championship title in the 1986 season.

Turn 1 remains the best, arguably the only serious overtaking opportunity at the Hungaroring in dry conditions.