(Motorsport-Total.com) – Can Ferrari compete for victory again at the Hungarian Grand Prix (all sessions in live ticker)? After the SF-26 had performed “better than expected” in Silverstone and Belgium, there is legitimate reason for hope before the race at the Hungaroring (the complete schedule).
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Because on paper, the track outside Budapest should suit the characteristics of the SF-26: slow corners, few straights, and a significantly lower influence of the power unit. That’s why the just over four-kilometer-long track is “slightly advantageous for us,” says Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur.
“But the result depends on good execution: We have to do a good job and be fully focused. We must not think it will be an easy trip – we know it won’t be. We have to continue to work as well as we have in the last two weeks, or perhaps even better…”
So what does Ferrari need to achieve for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to have a say in the fight for victory on Sunday? “We hope to put both cars in a good position in qualifying to have a clean weekend without mistakes, with good execution and without penalties,” adds Vasseur.
“Because I repeat: It’s not guaranteed that you win just because you’re the fastest.” With that, the Frenchman also alludes to the British Grand Prix, where Leclerc was able to secure his first win of the season, even though the Scuderia didn’t actually have the fastest car.
“Kimi Antonelli had an excellent car but didn’t score any points,” the Ferrari team boss recalls, referring to the technical problems of the championship leader, which once again show how unpredictable Formula 1 remains in 2026. “That’s why we must never overrate situations.”
Charles Leclerc makes “a step forward”
The Ferrari drivers are still eyeing their second win of the season. “I am confident in saying that I have made a step forward,” emphasizes Leclerc. “Am I already at the level where I want to perform? No, not yet.”
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“There are still things on the car that I have to compensate for with my driving and that I can’t drive completely naturally yet,” admits the Monegasque. “That costs me time in some race phases. So there are still points I need to work on to get better.”
“But it was definitely a step forward, and I’m happy about that. Nevertheless, I stick to the approach of thinking from race to race. Because with these cars, it’s very difficult to trust that after a good race weekend, the next one will also go well.”
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It comes down to “many small details,” says Leclerc. “And also in terms of driving, it’s never a given that you can achieve the same energy deployment from one lap to the next. That’s perhaps the most frustrating aspect of these cars.”
Ferrari must “simply do their homework”
Therefore, the Silverstone winner does not want to make a prediction for the upcoming weekend in Hungary. “We will only know when we are there. I think it is once again very difficult to predict the performance level of all teams.”
Leclerc recalls the Monaco Grand Prix, where the SF-26 was also predicted to have a strong performance, but these expectations were ultimately not met. “That’s why we have to remain cautious. We simply have to do our homework, just like on any other track.”
“What we did particularly well in the last two weekends was to ensure that we get the maximum out of our package. We should maintain exactly this mentality for Budapest – without letting ourselves be guided by any expectations.”
Lewis Hamilton “has to do everything right”
Teammate Lewis Hamilton, for whom the weekend in Belgium was rather disappointing, also looks optimistically at the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I think the team is making great decisions on strategy, and overall we have significantly improved our way of working on race weekends.”
The current SF-26 has “developed in the right direction” in recent weeks, confirms the Briton, who remains cautious with predictions for Hungary. “I have to do everything right and make sure I deliver the performance I know I can.”
Should Hamilton succeed in this step, Ferrari could indeed become the benchmark for the competition. “I think in Hungary and the Netherlands we will probably see Ferrari as the fastest car again,” fears McLaren team boss Andrea Stella. “They will be extremely competitive in the corners.”
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