Some Formula 1 teams are fond of describing the Hungaroring as 'Monaco without the walls'. There is some justification for this. It's a short and narrow track, with 14 turns - most of which are taken at less than 125mph, and a place where the cars run with all the downforce the teams can find.
"It's like Monaco," says Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo. "You don't really have much time to think. It's just corner after corner. You can zig-zag your way around." We all know how May's Monaco Grand Prix panned out. Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull were all contenders for pole; Ricciardo eventually claimed top spot on the grid; and but for a pitstop blunder he would have narrowly beaten Lewis Hamilton to victory in the race too.
So you can see why both Red Bull and Mercedes came into the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend expecting another close fight. At 'Monaco without the walls', Hamilton, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, and even McLaren's Jenson Button reckoned Red Bull would have a genuine shot at victory.