Lewis Hamilton has warned Ferrari that they must "come and fight for the win" at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, while McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes the Italian squad will be "extremely competitive" on the tight, twisty circuit. The rivalry between the two leading manufacturers has intensified after each has taken two victories in the last four races, even though Mercedes has generally enjoyed a speed advantage throughout the season. At the Belgian round in Spa, Kimi Antonelli demonstrated why he now leads the Drivers' Championship by a comfortable 45 points over Hamilton and 50 points ahead of George Russell.
Antonelli’s performance was especially impressive given that a Virtual Safety Car period prevented him from making a pit stop, yet he still managed to out‑pace Charles Leclerc on Sunday. Ferrari’s showing at Spa was closer than many expected, a sign that the Hungaroring – a track packed with slow‑speed corners – could suit the Scuderia’s strengths.
Stella told Sky Sports F1: "I think in Hungary and the Netherlands we will see Ferrari back to probably being the fastest car in the corners. Extremely competitive." He added that the team’s recent progress suggests they could challenge Mercedes on a circuit where aerodynamic grip matters more than outright engine power. Hamilton, who holds a record eight wins at the Hungaroring, has struggled to convert his pace into victories this year after receiving five‑second penalties in the last two races. His most recent win came at the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix, and he admitted that he needs to "come correct" in Budapest to deliver the performance fans expect.
"We have to come and fight for that win," he said, underscoring his determination to rebound. Ferrari’s cornering prowess has been the benchmark this season, even though their power unit has lagged behind Mercedes and Red Bull.
The last two venues – Silverstone and Spa – favoured strong engines because of long straights, but the Hungaroring is essentially a down‑force circuit where chassis balance and aerodynamic efficiency dominate. Energy deployment will be less of a factor, meaning the car with the superior package around the bends should excel.
Former driver and Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok believes the Hungarian race could echo Barcelona, where Hamilton’s superior straight‑line speed helped him win. Chandhok noted, "Ferrari have been behind Mercedes for most of the season, except at Barcelona where Lewis genuinely had the outright pace to beat them. I think Ferrari will be very strong in Budapest – their aerodynamic package and cornering speeds are impressive." Bernie Collins of Sky Sports added another perspective, pointing out that both Hungary and the post‑summer‑break race at Zandvoort are circuits where straight‑line performance is relatively unimportant.
"These are down‑force tracks where you try to extract the maximum from the car in the corners, and that will promote Ferrari," he said. The expectations for Ferrari were similar heading into the Monaco Grand Prix in June, where Antonelli turned pole position into a victory. Charles Leclerc, however, cautioned against over‑optimism: "It’s very difficult to predict the level of performance of every team. Before Monaco we felt we were under‑performing compared to expectations, so we need to be careful.
We just need to do our homework, like we do at every track. The last two weekends we maximised our package, and that mentality should stay for Budapest, without being distracted by expectations." Since Monaco, Ferrari has introduced upgrades that have further enhanced their cornering ability.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur, while optimistic, remains measured. "Everyone will bring upgrades and we don’t know the full picture of performance.
Everybody is pushing," he explained. "Tyre management, tyre preparation, set‑up, and the track layout are all crucial.
If we execute the same quality of work as this weekend, it will pay off, but it’s never a guarantee. Each weekend we start from scratch." Vasseur also highlighted that while circuits like Silverstone and Spa are technically demanding, they test the engine more than the chassis. In contrast, tracks such as Monaco and Budapest place a premium on aerodynamic efficiency and driver skill through tight sections. "We are not shining in Monaco, which means we have to keep pushing, maintain the same approach, and never assume it will be easy," he added.
The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend schedule is packed with support series and F1 sessions. On Thursday, July 23, the drivers’ press conference begins at 2 p.m., followed by the paddock uncut at 5 p.m. Friday, July 24, sees F3 practice at 8:50 a.m., F2 practice at 10 a.m., and the first Hungarian GP practice session at 12:30 p.m.
Qualifying for F3 and F2 follows, with the second GP practice starting at 4 p.m. and the F1 Show at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, July 25, opens with the F3 sprint at 9 a.m., then the third GP practice at 11:30 a.m., F2 sprint at 1:10 p.m., and the crucial GP qualifying sessions from 2:15 p.m.
to 3 p.m., culminating in the official Hungarian GP qualifying at 3 p.m. The day ends with Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26, the final day of action begins with the F3 feature race at 7:35 a.m., followed by the Porsche Supercup at 9:05 a.m., the F2 feature race at 10:20 a.m., and the build‑up to the Grand Prix at 12:30 p.m.
The Hungarian Grand Prix itself starts at 2 p.m., with the race concluding around 4 p.m. and the post‑race reaction segment at 5 p.m., again featuring Ted’s Notebook. 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 Ferrari’s recent upgrades, the circuit’s emphasis on down‑force, and Hamilton’s desire to add another Hungaroring win to his record makes this weekend a compelling showdown for the championship. Whether Antonelli can maintain his lead or Hamilton can close the gap will largely depend on which team can best exploit the corner‑heavy nature of the track and deliver a flawless performance on race day.