Lewis Hamilton has warned Ferrari that they need 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 twisty Hungaroring. The rivalry between the two leading manufacturers has intensified after each has secured two victories in the last four rounds, although Mercedes has generally enjoyed a speed advantage throughout the season.
Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers' Championship by 45 points over Hamilton and 50 points ahead of George Russell, displayed impressive form at the Belgian round. Despite being unable to pit during a Virtual Safety Car period, he still managed to out‑finish Charles Leclerc on Sunday, underscoring his pace and strategic acumen. Ferrari’s performance at Spa‑Francorchamps was closer than many expected, a promising sign for Budapest where the circuit is packed with corners that traditionally favour a car with strong aerodynamic grip.
Stella told Sky Sports F1 that he anticipates Ferrari will be "back to probably being the fastest car we see in the corners" at both Hungary and the Netherlands, describing them as "extremely competitive". Hamilton, who holds a record eight victories at the Hungaroring, has not been able to challenge for the top step since his win at the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix last month. Two consecutive five‑second penalties in the previous races have hampered his momentum.
"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, emphasizing his determination to fight for the win. Ferrari have established themselves as the benchmark in cornering this year, even though their power unit has lagged behind Mercedes and Red Bull.
Recent upgrades have narrowed the power‑unit gap, but the Hungarian circuit places far more emphasis on chassis performance than on outright engine power. The track’s short straights and numerous medium‑speed bends mean that aerodynamic efficiency and mechanical grip are decisive factors. Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok suggested that, because energy deployment will be less critical, the car with the superior chassis could dominate, potentially replicating the scenario seen in Barcelona where Hamilton triumphed.
Chandhok added, "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. 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." Bernie Collins of Sky Sports F1 reinforced this view, noting that both Hungary and Zandvoort – the first race after the summer break – are circuits where straight‑line speed is less important.
"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 explained. The expectations surrounding Ferrari are reminiscent of the lead‑up to the Monaco Grand Prix in June, where Antonelli turned a pole position into a victory.
Charles Leclerc cautioned against over‑optimism, saying, "It’s very difficult to predict the level of performance of every team. I recall the overall feeling before Monaco, and we arrived in Monaco under‑performing compared to what everybody thought we would, so we need to be cautious.
We just need to do our homework, just like we do at every different track. What we did particularly well over the last two weekends was to really make sure that we maximised our package, and that’s the mentality we should keep for Budapest, without thinking about expectations." Since Monaco, Ferrari have introduced further upgrades that have enhanced their cornering ability.
Team principal Frédéric 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 said. "You have a lot of performance in the execution on tyre management, tyre preparation, set‑up, and the layout of the track.
If we do the same quality of work as this weekend, it will pay off, but it is not a given. Each weekend we start from scratch." Vasseur also highlighted that while circuits like Silverstone and Spa test power‑unit performance due to their long straights, tracks such as Monaco – and by extension Hungary – test the car’s aerodynamic and mechanical balance. "On paper the layout of Silverstone and Spa are probably a bit more difficult than some others.
But on the other hand, in Monaco we are not shining. That 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 schedule is packed with action across the Formula 1 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 practice at 8:50 am, F2 practice at 10 am, the first Hungarian GP practice session at 12:30 pm, F3 qualifying at 1:55 pm, F2 qualifying at 3 pm, and the second GP practice at 4 pm, culminating with The F1 Show at 5:15 pm. Saturday, July 25, offers an F3 sprint at 9 am, the third GP practice at 11:30 am, an F2 sprint at 1:10 pm, the GP qualifying build‑up at 2:15 pm, and the decisive Hungarian GP qualifying at 3 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5 pm.
Sunday, July 26, will see the F3 feature race at 7:35 am, Porsche Supercup at 9:05 am, F2 feature race at 10:20 am, the GP build‑up and the main race starting at 12:30 pm, the Grand Prix itself at 2 pm, the post‑race reaction at 4 pm, and Ted’s Notebook at 5 pm. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a contract and the option to cancel at any time. In summary, the Hungaroring presents a unique opportunity for Ferrari to leverage its cornering strength against Mercedes, whose advantage has largely been engine power. Hamilton, eager to add another Hungarian win to his record, knows he must overcome recent penalties and deliver a flawless performance.
Meanwhile, Antonelli, leading the championship comfortably, will aim to maintain his momentum. The race promises a tactical battle where chassis finesse, tyre strategy, and driver precision could tip the scales, potentially reshaping the championship narrative as the season heads toward its summer climax.