Lewis Hamilton has urged Ferrari to "come and fight for the win" at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, while McLaren team principal Andrea Stella predicts that the Scuderia will be "extremely competitive" on the tight, twisty circuit. Over the past four rounds, Ferrari and Mercedes have each secured two victories, yet the Silver Arrows have generally held the advantage in sheer speed throughout the season. Kimi Antonelli, who currently enjoys a 45‑point lead over Hamilton and a 50‑point cushion ahead of George Russell in the Drivers' Championship, displayed blistering form at the Belgian round.
Despite being denied a pit stop under a Virtual Safety Car, Antonelli still managed to out‑run Charles Leclerc on Sunday, underscoring his growing momentum. Ferrari’s performance at Spa‑Francorchamps was closer than many expected, a sign that the Hungaroring – a venue renowned for its abundance of corners – could play directly into the Italian team’s strengths.
As Stella told Sky Sports F1, "I think in Hungary, the Netherlands we will see Ferrari back to probably being the fastest car we see in the corners there. Extremely competitive." Hamilton, who holds a record eight victories at the Hungarian Grand Prix, has been hampered by five‑second penalties in the last two races, preventing him from challenging for a win since his triumph at Barcelona‑Catalunya last month. "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," he said, emphasizing his determination to rebound.
Ferrari have set the benchmark for cornering speed this year, though their power unit has lagged behind the hybrid giants Mercedes and Red Bull. Recent upgrades have narrowed that gap, but the last two circuits – Silverstone and Spa – rewarded raw engine power because of their long, flat‑out sections. The Hungaroring, by contrast, is a down‑force‑heavy track where chassis balance and aerodynamic efficiency dominate. As Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok noted, "Energy deployment, or a lack of, will not be an issue so the cars with the best chassis will be strong.
We could see a repeat of Barcelona, where Hamilton was victorious." Chandhok added that Ferrari have been trailing Mercedes over the season, except for the Barcelona race where Hamilton’s outright pace proved decisive. "Ferrari will be very strong in Budapest.
In Barcelona the aerodynamic package and cornering speeds of the Ferrari were very strong," he said. Bernie Collins from Sky Sports F1 echoed this sentiment, pointing out that both Hungary and Zandvoort – the first post‑summer‑break race – are circuits where straight‑line speed is less critical.
"These are down‑force circuits where you try to get the most out of the car through the corners, and that will promote Ferrari," he explained. The expectations surrounding Ferrari were similar heading into Monaco in June, where Antonelli turned pole position into a race win.
Charles Leclerc cautioned against over‑optimism, recalling the team’s under‑performance relative to pre‑Monaco expectations. "We just need to do our homework, like we do at every track. Over the last two weekends we maximised our package, and that mentality should carry into Budapest without being distracted by external expectations," Leclerc said.
Since Monaco, Ferrari have introduced further upgrades that have enhanced their cornering capability. Team principal Frederic Vasseur, however, remains measured in his outlook.
"Everyone will bring upgrades and we don’t know the full picture of performance. Everybody is pushing," he observed. "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 is never a given for us or anyone else.
Each weekend we start from scratch." Vasseur also highlighted that while tracks like Silverstone and Spa present more complex aerodynamic challenges, circuits such as Monaco – and by extension Hungary – do not allow a team to simply rely on raw power. "In Monaco we are not shining, which means we have to continue to push, keep the same approach and never think it will be easy, because it is never easy," he added. The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend is packed with action.
Thursday, July 23, will feature the drivers' press conference at 2 p.m., followed by the Paddock Uncut at 5 p.m. Friday, July 24, includes F3 practice at 8:50 a.m., F2 practice at 10 a.m., the first Hungarian GP practice session at 12:30 p.m., F3 qualifying at 1:55 p.m., F2 qualifying at 3 p.m., the second GP practice at 4 p.m., and the F1 Show at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 25, sees the F3 sprint at 9 a.m., the third GP practice at 11:30 a.m., the F2 sprint at 1:10 p.m., the qualifying build‑up at 2:15 p.m., and the crucial Hungarian GP qualifying at 3 p.m., followed by Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26, will culminate with the F3 feature race at 7:35 a.m., Porsche Supercup at 9:05 a.m., F2 feature race at 10:20 a.m., the GP build‑up at 12:30 p.m., the main race at 2 p.m., the post‑race reaction at 4 p.m., and Ted's Notebook at 5 p.m.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a contract and cancellable at any time. In summary, the Hungaroring offers a unique opportunity for Ferrari to leverage its cornering prowess against Mercedes’ power‑unit advantage. Hamilton, hungry for his ninth Hungarian win, knows he must deliver a flawless performance to keep his championship hopes alive.
Meanwhile, Antonelli’s strong championship lead adds another layer of intrigue, making the Budapest showdown a potential turning point in the 2026 Formula 1 title race.