Hamilton aims for hat-trick of wins

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton can chalk up his third win in a row when he returns to Budapest for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix, a race he won in controversial circumstances last year.

McLaren's Formula One championship leader, now four points clear of Ferrari's Felipe Massa after stunning wins in Germany and Britain, has every chance of extending his advantage before the summer break.

Despite the ease with which he went past his rivals at Hockenheim, and his astonishing performance in the wet at Silverstone, the 23-year-old was taking nothing for granted.

"I'm wary about making any strong predictions," the Briton said in a team preview.

"Yes, we were strong in the last two races but we encountered difficulties in the two before that. So it's impossible to call this weekend.

"I don't go into this weekend surfing any particular wave of confidence. It's such a different type of circuit that it's difficult for anybody to feel certain about their chances," added Hamilton.

The example of last year, and of 2006 when Honda's Jenson Buton won against the odds, serves as a reminder of how the unexpected can always happen at the Hungaroring despite the difficulties of overtaking.

ALONSO FALLOUT