Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he must "step it up" for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix after a weekend at Spa‑Francorchamps that left him frustrated and wary of repeating past mistakes. The seven‑time world champion acknowledged that he "can't afford" another incident like the crash that marred his Saturday practice session, a mishap that forced Mercedes to replace a host of components before qualifying and ultimately cost him a chance at a stronger result. At Spa, Hamilton managed to finish fourth on Sunday, but he felt the performance was below his own expectations.

He believes that, had the practice crash not occurred, he could have been in contention for the win. The incident forced a hurried rebuild of his car, disrupting the rhythm and confidence that are crucial in a tightly contested Formula 1 weekend.

His teammate, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, out‑qualified and out‑finished him for the second race in a row. Leclerc benefited from a well‑timed Virtual Safety Car, which allowed him to gain valuable track position and ultimately finish just two seconds behind race winner Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the championship. The strong showing from Ferrari, particularly on high‑speed circuits such as Silverstone—where Leclerc claimed victory—and now Spa, has led many analysts to predict that the Scuderia will be especially competitive at the Hungaroring. The Hungarian circuit favors cars with superior cornering abilities, a characteristic that aligns well with Ferrari's current strengths.

When Sky Sports F1 asked Hamilton whether he felt confident about building momentum for the remainder of the season, he responded cautiously optimistic. "I think so," he said.

"This weekend was a bit unfortunate and Silverstone was another tough one. It's really great to see the performance we are delivering and we are constantly improving the car. I think we have more upgrades coming that will help us close the gap. Being here and showing the pace we have as a team is encouraging, but there is still a long, long way to go." He added that the recent setbacks have reinforced his resolve to sharpen his focus.

"I can't afford weekends like this in terms of my performance on Saturday, so I'm going to step it up in terms of focus level for next week," Hamilton asserted, emphasizing the need for heightened concentration and consistency as the championship progresses. Despite finishing off the podium for only the second time in six races, Hamilton's result at Spa was enough to reclaim second place in the Drivers' Championship from his fellow Mercedes driver George Russell. The two former teammates collided on the opening lap, prompting a spin for Russell and a five‑second penalty for Hamilton after the stewards reviewed the incident.

Hamilton now sits 45 points behind Antonelli, who leads the standings. Hungary holds a special place in Hamilton's career. He has won the Hungarian Grand Prix a record eight times, and the circuit was the venue for his most recent pole position in 2023.

Those past successes add an extra layer of motivation as he prepares to tackle the tight, twisty layout of the Hungaroring, a track that demands precision and a well‑balanced car. The events at Silverstone and Spa also highlighted a resurgence for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. After a difficult period adapting his driving style to the new 2026 regulations, Leclerc has begun to find his rhythm.

While he remains modest about declaring a full breakthrough, he expressed satisfaction with his recent progress. "I'm confident in saying that I've taken a step forward. I'm not yet at the level I want to be at, but I'm improving," Leclerc explained.

He noted that there are still aspects of the car that require adjustment and that he cannot yet drive completely naturally, which hampers his performance in certain sections of a race. "There are still things I need to work on to be better. It was a step forward, and I'm happy with that," he said. Leclerc also emphasized a pragmatic, race‑by‑race approach, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the new generation of cars.

"With these cars, it's very difficult to be confident that if one weekend goes well, the next will as well, because it relies on such small details," he remarked. "Driving consistency is never guaranteed from one lap to the next, and that can be frustrating." As Formula 1 heads to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix, all sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 starting Friday.

Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time. The upcoming race promises to be a crucial test for both Mercedes and Ferrari as they vie for supremacy in a season that is already shaping up to be fiercely competitive. Hamilton's determination to elevate his focus and Leclerc's incremental improvements set the stage for an intriguing showdown at the Hungaroring, where every corner could prove decisive in the battle for championship points.