Lewis Hamilton has urged Ferrari to "come and fight for the win" at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, while McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes the Scuderia will be "extremely competitive" on the tight, twisty circuit in Budapest. The rivalry between the two leading manufacturers has intensified, with each side having secured two victories in the last four rounds.
Although Mercedes has generally held the advantage in raw pace throughout the season, the balance of power could shift in Hungary, where handling and cornering speed are more decisive than outright engine power. Kimi Antonelli currently enjoys a comfortable lead in the Drivers' Championship, sitting 45 points ahead of Hamilton and 50 points clear of George Russell.
His performance at the Belgian Grand Prix demonstrated his ability to extract maximum performance from the Ferrari, even after a missed pit‑stop opportunity under a Virtual Safety Car. Antonelli’s win over Charles Leclerc at Spa‑Francorchamps highlighted that the Ferrari package is capable of delivering under pressure, and the relatively short, technical layout of the Hungaroring could play into the same strengths.
Stella told Sky Sports F1 that he expects Ferrari to be "back to probably being the fastest car we see in the corners" at both the Hungarian and Dutch rounds. The Hungaroring, with its abundance of medium‑speed bends and a lack of long straights, rewards cars that generate high downforce and possess a well‑balanced chassis.
This is precisely where Ferrari has excelled this year, consistently posting the best cornering times despite a power‑unit deficit compared with Mercedes and Red Bull. Hamilton, a record eight‑time winner at the Hungarian Grand Prix, has struggled to convert his speed into victories this season after receiving five‑second penalties in the two previous races. His last win came at the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix, where the circuit’s emphasis on aerodynamics mirrored the demands of the Hungaroding.
"I’m hoping we can be competitive. I need to come correct this week and make sure I deliver the way I know I can deliver in Budapest," Hamilton said, underscoring his determination to bounce back. The technical nature of the Hungaroring means that energy deployment – a critical factor on power‑heavy tracks like Silverstone and Spa – is less of a differentiator. Instead, the car with the superior aerodynamic package and the most refined chassis setup will have the edge.
Former driver and Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok believes this could lead to a repeat of the Barcelona scenario, where Hamilton’s mastery of the corner‑heavy layout secured him the win. "Ferrari have been behind Mercedes if you look at the trend across the season, apart from Barcelona where I think Lewis Hamilton genuinely had the outright pace to beat Mercedes," Chandhok explained. "I think Ferrari will be very strong in Budapest. We saw in Barcelona that the aerodynamic package and the cornering speeds of the Ferrari are very strong." Bernie Collins of Sky Sports added that both Hungary and the post‑summer‑break race at Zandvoort are circuits where straight‑line speed is not the primary test.
"These are down‑force circuits where you are trying to get the most out of the car through those corners, and that will promote Ferrari," he said. The expectations surrounding Ferrari are not new. Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix in June, many pundits predicted a strong showing, and Antonelli turned that confidence into a pole‑to‑victory performance.
Charles Leclerc, however, cautioned against over‑optimism: "It’s very difficult to predict the level of performance of every team. We arrived in Monaco under‑performing compared to expectations, so we need to be cautious. We just need to do our homework, like we do at every track.
The mentality we should keep for Budapest is to maximise our package without being distracted by expectations." Since Monaco, Ferrari has introduced a series of aerodynamic upgrades aimed at improving cornering grip, a move that could further narrow the gap to Mercedes. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur emphasized that while upgrades are essential, the overall picture remains fluid. "Everyone will bring upgrades and we don’t know the exact performance picture. Execution on tyre management, set‑up, and track layout is crucial.
If we do the same quality of work as this weekend, it will pay off, but nothing is guaranteed. Each weekend we start from scratch," Vasseur said.
He also noted that while circuits like Silverstone and Spa present greater challenges due to their long, flat‑out sections, tracks such as Monaco and Budapest test a car’s ability to generate downforce and maintain stability through rapid direction changes. "In Monaco we are not shining, which means we have to keep pushing and never assume it will be easy," Vasseur added.
The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend schedule is packed with action across all categories. On Thursday, drivers will face a press conference at 2 pm, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 5 pm. Friday features practice sessions for F3, F2, and the first F1 practice, with qualifying for the lower formulas and the start of the F1 qualifying build‑up later in the day.
Saturday includes the F3 sprint, the final F1 practice, the F2 sprint, and the crucial Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying. Sunday culminates with the F3 feature race, the Porsche Supercup, the F2 feature race, and finally the main event – the Hungarian Grand Prix – with post‑race analysis and reaction segments.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract. The combination of a technical circuit, recent Ferrari upgrades, and Hamilton’s desire to reclaim his dominance sets the stage for a potentially decisive battle in the championship. If Ferrari can translate its cornering advantage into consistent lap times, Hamilton may find his path to victory blocked, allowing Antonelli to extend his lead. Conversely, a strong performance from Mercedes could see Hamilton close the gap and keep his title hopes alive.
The Hungaroring, with its unique demands, promises to be a pivotal arena where chassis excellence, driver skill, and strategic execution converge to shape the next chapter of the 2026 Formula 1 season.