Ferrari setting error compromised Charles Leclerc’s start in Budapest. Why Charles Leclerc dropped from second to fifth at the Hungarian GP start.

Charles Leclerc has revealed that an incorrect Ferrari setting contributed to the wheelspin that dropped him from second to fifth at the start of the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. Ferrari configured the car according to an expected level of grip that proved inaccurate, compromising a crucial moment in Charles Leclerc’s pursuit of a Budapest podium.

The Monegasque started from the second grid slot but was positioned on the dirtier side of the track. His tyres immediately spun as he attempted to launch, allowing Oscar Piastri to overtake and leaving Charles Leclerc sandwiched between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Charles Leclerc falls from second to fifth at the Hungarian GP start

Charles Leclerc lifted off the throttle to avoid further trouble, but the loss of positions severely damaged his podium hopes. Recovering places is particularly difficult at the tight and technical Hungaroring, where overtaking opportunities are limited.

The Ferrari driver eventually crossed the line in fifth place before being promoted to fourth in the final Hungarian Grand Prix classification. Charles Leclerc gained the position after Lewis Hamilton received a penalty for exceeding the pit-lane speed limit.

Ferrari setting error contributed to Charles Leclerc’s wheelspin

Speaking in the customary post-race interviews, Charles Leclerc explained that he had not made an error during the starting procedure. Instead, Ferrari had configured the car based on an inaccurate assessment of the grip available on his side of the grid.

“I knew it was a crucial moment in the race. I followed the correct procedure but unfortunately, for some reason, we set up the car based on the level of grip we expected and—for reasons we still need to analyse—we overestimated it,” Charles Leclerc explained.

Ferrari had therefore anticipated more grip than Charles Leclerc ultimately encountered on the inside line of the starting grid. The miscalculation contributed to one of the setbacks that left Ferrari outside the Hungaroring podium.

Charles Leclerc confirmed that Ferrari had expected the two sides of the grid to offer different conditions, but the precise grip level did not match the team’s calculations. “We knew there was a difference between the left-hand side and the right-hand side, but the grip was higher than we expected,” he admitted.