Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari a highly encouraging start to the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend by setting the pace in the opening free practice session at the Hungaroring. On a circuit that was still particularly green, dirty and slippery, the SF-26 appeared to have the most convincing baseline setup, allowing Charles Leclerc to find speed and confidence almost immediately.
It was only the first session of the weekend, and the condition of the asphalt will change considerably as more rubber is laid down, but Ferrari’s opening performance was still significant. The behaviour of the car suggested that strong preparatory work had been completed at the factory and in the simulator, with the Maranello team arriving in Budapest with a configuration already close to the circuit’s requirements.
That represents an important advantage at a track where driver confidence and a consistent balance can make a substantial difference. Ferrari had previously warned that the Hungaroring should not automatically be considered an ideal venue for the SF-26, with Charles Leclerc urging caution over Ferrari’s prospects in Hungary. The first practice data, however, offered a positive initial picture.
Charles Leclerc works close to the Ferrari’s rear-end limit
Charles Leclerc was the driver who appeared to find the greatest confidence, benefiting from a very neutral underlying balance and an overall level of grip that, at least for the moment, looked particularly high. Ferrari displayed impressive cornering speed, supporting the expectation that the SF-26’s low-speed cornering strength could prove valuable at the Hungaroring.
The car also allowed both Ferrari drivers to use the throttle to influence rotation. This was particularly noteworthy for Lewis Hamilton, who had been seen using that technique less frequently during previous race weekends.
The rear of the SF-26 will be one of Ferrari’s main areas of attention throughout the practice sessions. Its stability is likely to play a major role in determining the team’s overall performance during the weekend. For now, the rear appeared solid, although it was operating relatively close to the limit.
The impression from FP1 was that Ferrari had brought a setup with a very neutral front-to-rear balance. That placed the rear axle exactly around the level required to produce rotation without, at this stage, introducing additional understeer to protect the tyres from the temperatures expected on Sunday. Tyre management may become more important as conditions develop, particularly given the heat and changing weather forecast for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
During his fastest lap, Charles Leclerc clearly lost the rear of the car on two occasions, at Turn 5 and at the final corner. Those were visible moments, but they came during a lap in which the Ferrari driver was otherwise able to apply the throttle decisively through the middle of the corners and, above all, during the traction phases.
The SF-26 did not simply appear stable. It also gave Charles Leclerc a useful degree of predictability as the rear approached the limit of adhesion. That allowed him to maintain considerable speed through the middle of the corners, frequently using a significant amount of throttle to support the rotation of the car.
Ferrari manages its energy deployment around traction
From an energy-management perspective, the data from Charles Leclerc’s lap highlighted two clear harvesting zones before Turns 11 and 12. Ferrari appeared to sacrifice a small amount of acceleration in those sections, losing approximately one and a half tenths of a second, to preserve energy for the sequence that followed.
The objective was to have more electrical energy available for the low-speed acceleration zones in the third sector, where Ferrari could concentrate deployment at lower speeds and maximise the exit phase. The approach was consistent with the characteristics of the Hungaroring, where strong acceleration out of slower corners represents an important part of the overall lap time.
Energy distribution has become an especially important element under the current technical regulations, and the Hungaroring’s energy-deployment demands place a particular emphasis on traction rather than simply maximising assistance at the end of every straight.
Ferrari also appeared quick during the very brief race simulations. Lewis Hamilton produced a solid run in that phase, while Charles Leclerc’s programme was disrupted by an unspecified problem. It remains to be seen whether the neutral balance observed in FP1 will remain effective as more rubber is laid down and track temperatures rise over the remainder of the weekend.
Lewis Hamilton performs well with the less-updated rear wing
Lewis Hamilton completed his programme with a rear wing that had not received the full updated specification, but he nevertheless produced a positive overall performance. Ferrari introduced an evolved version of its distinctive rear-wing concept in Budapest, with the updated “Macarena” rear wing fitted to the SF-26 at the Hungaroring.
The British driver appeared to encounter slightly greater difficulty in managing the stiffness of the car. His SF-26 displayed more pronounced bouncing over kerbs and surface depressions, making it harder to maintain a completely settled platform.
On a bumpy circuit featuring several significant load transfers, controlling the ride height and aerodynamic platform will be one of the key technical areas to monitor during the remainder of the weekend. Ferrari’s baseline nevertheless appeared competitive on both cars, despite the configuration and confidence differences between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Ferrari’s rivals remain difficult to assess before FP2
Mercedes endured a more complicated opening to the weekend. George Russell appeared to be in considerable difficulty over a single lap, although he showed slightly more promising pace during his race simulation. The W17 still seemed to require substantial work to reach its correct operating window.
FP2 should offer a much more representative indication when Kimi Antonelli returns to the circuit. The second session will also provide further evidence in the developing performance comparison between Ferrari and Mercedes at the Hungaroring.
Max Verstappen made a positive start to the weekend, although the true performance margin available to Red Bull was not yet clear. McLaren was even more difficult to evaluate, with Lando Norris and Leonardo Fornaroli completing an extensive programme focused on validating updates. That work inevitably concealed some of the car’s outright single-lap potential.
FP2 will therefore be crucial. Ferrari must first establish whether it can retain its excellent initial balance as the track becomes more heavily rubbered in. The session should also begin to reveal the true level of Mercedes and Ferrari’s other rivals, who showed very little of their full potential during the opening hour of running.
Leave a Reply