Lewis Hamilton has warned that Ferrari must "come and fight for the win" at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, a sentiment echoed by McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who believes the Italian squad will be "extremely competitive" on the twisty Hungaroring circuit. Over the past four races the championship has seen an even split of victories between Ferrari and Mercedes, each team securing two wins.
While Mercedes has generally enjoyed the edge in raw straight‑line speed throughout the season, the balance of power has been far from settled, and the next weekend could prove pivotal for the title chase. Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli currently enjoys a comfortable lead in the Drivers' Championship, sitting 45 points ahead of Hamilton and 50 points clear of George Russell. Antonelli displayed impressive pace at the Belgian round at Spa‑Francorchamps, even managing to overturn a setback when a Virtual Safety Car prevented him from making a pit stop, ultimately out‑qualifying Charles Leclerc on Sunday.
Ferrari’s performance at Spa was closer than many had expected, a sign that the Hungaroring – a circuit renowned for its abundance of slow‑speed corners – could play directly into the strengths of the Scuderia. The track’s emphasis on downforce and chassis balance, rather than outright engine power, may allow Ferrari to capitalize on its aerodynamic package.
"I think in Hungary, the Netherlands we will see Ferrari back to probably being the fastest car in the corners there. Extremely competitive," Stella told Sky Sports F1, underscoring the belief that the Italian team’s cornering speed could be a decisive factor. Hamilton, a record eight‑time winner at the Hungaroring, has not been able to translate his historic dominance into recent victories.
Five‑second time penalties in the two preceding races have kept him off the podium since his win at the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix last month. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic.
"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, stressing his determination to fight for the win. Ferrari have been the benchmark for cornering speed this season, but their Achilles' heel has been the power unit.
Recent upgrades have narrowed the gap to Mercedes and Red Bull, and the upcoming race could showcase how far the Italian team has progressed. The previous two rounds – Silverstone and Spa‑Francorchamps – heavily favored cars with strong power units due to their long, high‑speed sections.
By contrast, the Hungaroring is a downforce‑heavy circuit where the chassis and aerodynamic efficiency dominate. Energy deployment, a critical factor on power‑focused tracks, will be less of an issue here, allowing the cars with the best mechanical grip and cornering aerodynamics to shine. Former driver and Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok believes this could lead to a repeat of the Barcelona scenario, where Hamilton secured victory despite Mercedes’ power advantage. "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 noted.
"I think Ferrari will be very strong in Budapest. We saw in Barcelona the aerodynamic package and the cornering speeds of the Ferrari are very strong." Sky Sports commentator Bernie Collins added that both Hungary and Zandvoort – the first race after the summer break – are circuits that do not test straight‑line speed.
"These are downforce circuits where you are trying to get the most out of the car through those corners and that will promote Ferrari," he explained. The expectations for Ferrari were similar heading into the Monaco Grand Prix in June, where Antonelli turned pole position into a race win. Charles Leclerc, however, cautioned against over‑optimism. "It’s very difficult to predict the level of performance of every team.
I recall the overall feeling before Monaco, and we arrived under‑performing compared to expectations, so we need to be cautious," he said. Leclerc emphasized the importance of maximizing the package on each track without getting distracted by external pressure. Since Monaco, Ferrari have introduced further upgrades aimed at enhancing cornering performance.
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur remains measured in his outlook, acknowledging that all teams will be bringing improvements and that the competitive picture is constantly evolving. "Everyone will bring upgrades and we don’t know the full performance picture. Everybody is pushing," Vasseur remarked. "You have a lot of performance in tyre management, tyre preparation, set‑up, and the layout of the track.
If we execute the same quality of work as this weekend, it will pay off, but it’s never guaranteed. Each weekend we start from scratch." The Hungarian Grand Prix schedule is packed with action across the Formula ladder. Thursday, July 23, will feature the drivers' press conference at 2 pm followed by the Paddock Uncut at 5 pm.
Friday, July 24, includes F3 and F2 practice sessions, the first Hungarian GP practice at 12:30 pm, and the F1 Show at 5 pm. Saturday, July 25, sees the F3 sprint, the third GP practice, the F2 sprint, and the crucial qualifying session at 3 pm. Finally, Sunday, July 26, will host the F3 feature race, Porsche Supercup, F2 feature race, and the Grand Prix itself, with the race starting at 2 pm and a post‑race reaction segment later in the afternoon.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW – a contract‑free service that can be cancelled at any time. Fans are also encouraged to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest news, video highlights, in‑depth analysis, and more.
In summary, the Hungaroring presents a unique opportunity for Ferrari to leverage its aerodynamic strength and challenge Mercedes for the race win. Hamilton, eager to add another Hungarian triumph to his record, will be looking to overcome recent penalties and prove that his experience can still dominate on a circuit that rewards precision and downforce. Meanwhile, Antonelli’s sizable championship lead adds another layer of intrigue, as any slip by the title‑contenders could tighten the battle as the season moves toward its climax. The stage is set for a compelling showdown in Budapest, where chassis performance, tyre strategy, and driver skill will likely determine who walks away with the most points.