Our F1 Insider is expecting a smooth Hungarian Grand Prix, one in which Valtteri Bottas can quieten the paddock critics.
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1.5pts e.w. Valtteri Bottas to qualify fastest at 6/1 (1/3 1,2)
2pts no safety car to be deployed at 6/4
Valtteri Bottas to qualify fastest
If you believe the rumour mill, the paddock vultures are circling for Bottas after his agonising mistake in Hungary. Bottas was running fourth with designs on second place when he lost a duel with a slippery kerb which saw his Mercedes planted unceremoniously in the barriers. The mistake comes at the worst possible time for the Finn as his bosses are due to decide on the identity of Lewis Hamilton's partner for 2020 later in August. But the Anglo-German team recognise Bottas's contribution to their domination of the sport and goodwill still exists towards him. It would be an ideal sign-off if he could recapture the early-season form which saw him take two wins in the first four races and a hat-trick of poles in Shanghai, Baku and Barcelona. Bottas was on the front row here last year and a repeat of that would see each-way pole backers at Ladbrokes' 6/1 in a healthy profit.
No safety car deployed
Two of the last three races at the Hungaroring have passed off without a safety-car period, and the odds for another uninterrupted afternoon of racing look fair at 6/4. Six of the 11 events this season have seen Bernd Maylander twiddling his thumbs rather than controlling the field in his rasping AMG Merc, and last Sunday's busy weekend may be the last time he's called upon before the summer break. The Hungaroring can see niggly contact but high-speed collisions are rare and its spacious run-off areas allow cars to rejoin the track rather than require extricating from the barriers. All in all, 6/4 is a fair price for no safety car to be deployed.
Posted at 0745 BST on 01/08/19.
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