A great weight has lifted off Lewis Hamilton and he could make it two in a row in Hungary, writes JONATHAN McEVOY… while F1 reacts to Ralf Schumacher coming out as gay

Lewis Hamilton’s mojo is back and he comes to a track he has conquered eight times. That’s what his victory at Silverstone two weeks ago did for him, his ninth win there put him in seventh heaven.

Then, as he revealed on Thursday ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, he spent the night of his victory at his home in west London in front of 164,000 delighted British fans. A curry for him and a few friends. He is 39 and the comforts of home suited him just fine that night.

A great weight, evident in his behavior and his words, has been lifted from him. Suddenly the doubts that had been weighing on him for the past two and a half years without a win have disappeared and there is a chance that he will go with the momentum.

And his Mercedes car is suddenly on par, or thereabouts, with Red Bull and McLaren. Kudos to Hamilton, George Russell and their team for that. And to boss Toto Wolff after it looked like their long run of dominance was in danger of terminal decline.

Speaking about his Silverstone victory, Hamilton said defiantly: ‘Hopefully it’s a reminder that I’m not done yet.’

On Thursday he couldn’t stop talking. In recent weeks he’d been quiet and occasionally irritable with Russell when they sat next to each other. The change is night and day.

There was a lot of emotion coming out of him. ‘I wouldn’t say I celebrated a lot. I flew back, not in disbelief, but proud. I went back to London, stayed in and watched the highlights.

‘The next day I went for a run around Hyde Park with the biggest smile I’ve ever had. That moment itself felt incredibly special, but Silverstone and the fans make all the difference.’

Hamilton hugged his father Anthony after taking his 104th victory. They hugged for a long time, about 20 seconds. “Every now and then he says something very genuine and we talk a lot,” Lewis said of his father.

‘There were times when I felt ashamed that I was letting people down, so it was good to experience victory with the people I grew up with. A lot of people felt it and that wasn’t something I had fully thought about or appreciated, so it was a really good reminder of how much love and support there is.

“We’ll see as the year goes on. I would say my body language and energy has changed over the last week, but I’m still myself and uncertain about what’s coming, and I’m preparing myself in the best way possible. It shows that anything is possible, and you have to keep going. There will be turbulence, for sure, but also the possibility of good days.

‘Every weekend is the ultimate test of pure willpower in the team and perseverance. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves and that’s the key to our approach. But we also think: f*** it, it’s game on. ‘We fight, we chase and we want to compete for as many wins as possible.’

Finally Hamilton and Mercedes are playing their part in what looks to be a decent season. I still doubt anyone can catch Max Verstappen – he’s too good and has a lead – but at least every race is alive. And I have a sneaking suspicion that a reborn Lewis will claim victory here on Sunday.

Formula 1: open to everyone

Ralf Schumacher has announced that he is in a relationship with a man. Which, to be honest, was not the shock of the millennium in the paddock.

The 49-year-old, who was married to Cora Brinkmann from 2001 to 2015, revealed his happy news on Instagram last weekend. His 22-year-old son, David, is happy for the German, who still works for Sky Germany during race weekends.

Lewis Hamilton, a champion of inclusivity and diversity, welcomed news of the younger Schumacher brother’s romance but called for more action to break down barriers.

Speaking in Hungary, he said: ‘I think it all started with Seb (Vettel) and me standing here on the grid and fighting against what the government is doing. And when I was wearing a (rainbow) helmet in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Ralf said it was not a good idea to do those things. Maybe today he changed his mind and even the fact that he is taking that step sends such a positive message.’

When asked for comment, F1 responded: “It is very positive for the sport and for Ralf to announce this news.

‘It shows that Formula 1 has made great strides in terms of inclusivity and diversity and he feels able to be open about his sexuality.

‘We want to continue our efforts to ensure that everyone feels accepted and welcome for who they are, while at the same time we should all be proud of the progress we are making.

‘We want to show everyone that our fantastic sport is also accessible to you.’

A hurricane in Hungary

Three races ago, the roof of the McLaren paddock was blown off due to a fire, meaning the circuit could not be reopened.

A storm raged through Budapest on Wednesday afternoon, causing part of the track facilities to be flooded. The organizers quickly rebuilt the site and the scorching sun did the rest of the restoration work in 33 degrees.

The only notable gap left was in the McLaren building, where Lando Norris’ media calls were being routed outside. He is setting up shop in the team’s engineering centre next door this weekend, and says his old room still smells of smoke that originated in Spain.

It seems that McLaren, looking ahead, could use a new camper or better mechanics. The car is not bad, mind you.

Bernie Shares Publicity Tips With Trump

Bernie Ecclestone told me that he thinks Donald Trump surviving an assassination attempt is the perfect publicity.

The former F1 boss knows how to turn these events to his advantage. Black-eyed and bruised after being mugged in London 14 years ago, he organised a photoshoot with F1 backers, Swiss watchmaker Hublot.

The advertisement for his effervescent tablet that resulted in the stunt read: ‘Look what people will do for a Hublot.’