Lewis Hamilton leads the Formula One world championship after three races, and Ferrari drivers have admitted that Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas already looks like the only man who can deny the Briton a record-equaling seventh title.

Hamilton dominated Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position, with a bonus point for fastest lap, to take a five-point lead over Bottas, the winner of the Austrian season-opener.

Asked whether they could see a scenario where Hamilton might not be champion at the end of the year, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc agreed it was unlikely.

"I think (only) if Valtteri wins the championship," said Vettel, himself a four-time world champion.

"I think Lewis is obviously the main contender," added Leclerc. "The only one that could probably stop him doing that is Valtteri."

Mercedes, winners of the past six drivers' and constructors' championships, have started 2020 with three wins and three poles and are 66 points clear of closest rivals Red Bull. 

Hamilton, fourth in the opener at the Red Bull Ring, has won two in a row and the next races are at his home Silverstone circuit. 

Ferrari, always seen as a strong and competent rival to Mercedes, had a disastrous season so far, as the team suffered a double retirement when Vettel and Leclerc collided on the first lap during the second race. 

On Sunday, Vettel finished a lap down from Hamilton, after the Mercedes overtook him in the final laps. Meanwhile Vettel's teammate Charles Leclerc failed to even get into the points, and crossed the line in 11th. 

"There was something wrong in the race, it just doesn't match with the car I had in qualifying," Leclerc complained.

"The car was extremely hard to drive on my side today," the Monegasque added. "We will be looking at the data to see what is wrong." 

(With input from agencies)