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 his recent mishap. The seven‑time world champion confessed that he "can't afford" another crash like the one that disrupted his Saturday practice session, a setback that forced Mercedes to replace a large number of components before qualifying could even begin.
At Spa, Hamilton managed to finish fourth on Sunday, but he believes that, without the practice incident, he could have been in contention for the win. The crash at the end of final practice not only damaged his car but also cost him valuable track time, leaving him scrambling to get the car back to a competitive state for the qualifying session.
Meanwhile, his teammate Charles Leclerc continued his strong form, out‑qualifying Hamilton and finishing ahead of him for the second race in a row. Leclerc benefited from a well‑timed Virtual Safety Car, which allowed him to gain crucial seconds and ultimately finish just two seconds shy of race winner Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the championship.
Ferrari's recent performances have surprised many analysts. The Scuderia has been faster than expected on high‑speed circuits such as Silverstone, where Leclerc claimed victory, and now at Spa‑Francorchamps. Their car's superior cornering ability is expected to be a major advantage at the Hungaroring, a circuit known for its twisty layout rather than outright speed. This has led to speculation that Ferrari could be a serious threat to Mercedes in Hungary, especially if the British team does not close the performance gap quickly.
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. This weekend was a bit unfortunate and Silverstone [was] again," he said, acknowledging the challenges the team has faced on recent tracks. He praised the progress Mercedes has made, noting, "It's really great to see the performance that we are bringing and we are improving the car constantly.
I think we have got more stuff coming in the pipeline to try and close that gap down." Hamilton added that seeing the team deliver pace was encouraging, but he also warned that there is still "a long, long way to go." He emphasized the need for heightened focus, stating, "Can't afford weekends like this in a sense of my performance [on Saturday] so I'm going to step it up in terms of focus level for next week." This comment underscores the mental discipline he believes is essential for extracting the maximum from a car that, while improving, still lags behind the front‑running Ferraris on certain circuits. Despite finishing off the podium for only the second time in six races, Hamilton's result at Spa was enough to lift him back into second place in the Drivers' Championship, overtaking his former teammate George Russell after the latter spun out on the opening lap following a brief contact. Hamilton received a five‑second penalty for that incident, but the points he earned still left him 45 points behind championship leader Antonelli.
Hamilton's record at the Hungaroring is impressive: he has won the race eight times, more than any other driver, and his most recent pole position there came in 2023. Those statistics give him confidence that, with a well‑balanced car, he can once again dominate the Hungarian fans. The races at Silverstone and Spa also highlighted a resurgence for Charles Leclerc, who has been adapting his driving style to the new 2026 regulations.
After a difficult stretch of results, Leclerc now appears more comfortable, though he remains modest about his progress. "I'm confident in saying that I made a step forward.
Whether I'm at the level where I want to perform, not yet," he admitted. He explained that the car still has handling quirks that prevent him from driving as naturally as he would like, which slows him down in certain sections of a race. Leclerc emphasized the importance of a "one‑race‑at‑a‑time" mindset, noting that the intricacies of the 2026 cars make it impossible to guarantee that a good weekend will automatically translate into the next.
Small details, such as tire degradation, aerodynamic balance, and even the timing of safety car deployments, can dramatically alter outcomes. "With what you do with your driving, it's never a given that you get the same deployment from one lap to the other, and that's maybe the frustrating bit about these cars," he said. As the Formula 1 calendar moves to Budapest, all sessions of the Hungarian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 starting Friday.
Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility of no long‑term contract. The upcoming weekend promises a compelling showdown between Mercedes and Ferrari, with Hamilton determined to sharpen his focus and Leclerc eager to prove that his recent improvements are more than a fleeting flash. Both drivers will be looking to capitalize on their respective strengths—Hamilton's experience and record at the Hungaroring, and Leclerc's recent pace on high‑speed corners—to shape the championship battle as it heads into the latter half of the season.