The 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix provided the clearest evidence yet of one of the Ferrari SF-26’s most important weaknesses. Before the Budapest weekend, the Maranello team had been considered one of the leading contenders for victory, but the race exposed a limitation Ferrari has not yet completely eliminated: managing the rear tyres when conditions become particularly demanding.
Before Formula 1 arrived at the Hungaroring, we had already examined this area in our Ferrari SF-26 technical analysis, explaining why the characteristics of the Hungarian circuit could trouble the car despite the significant progress demonstrated during the preceding races.
The Hungaroring confirmed the Ferrari SF-26’s main weakness
The Hungaroring is one of the most distinctive circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. It does not place the greatest emphasis on outright top speed, but it demands an extremely well-balanced car capable of generating substantial aerodynamic downforce without compromising the management of the rear tyres. That balance represented the main question mark surrounding Ferrari before the weekend.
Following the upgrades introduced in Barcelona, the SF-26 had made an important step forward in terms of aerodynamic performance and power-unit energy management. However, doubts remained over the car’s ability to control rear-tyre temperatures at circuits described as rear-limited, where the tyres on the rear axle are placed under the greatest stress.
The events in Budapest confirmed that this characteristic remains one of the principal limitations of the Maranello car. As the Hungarian Grand Prix race unfolded, Ferrari found it increasingly difficult to maintain consistent performance as the stints progressed.
The new Ferrari rear wing was not the real problem
Considerable attention during the Hungarian weekend was devoted to Ferrari’s new rear wing, an evolution of the so-called “Macarena” configuration. The update was designed to increase downforce and improve the SF-26’s behaviour through the slower, more technical sections of the circuit.
However, the decisive issue was not the rear wing itself. The greater concern was Ferrari’s ability to convert that additional aerodynamic load into performance without placing the rear tyres under excessive thermal stress.
Once the rear tyres enter an overheating phase, the car progressively loses stability under traction. Tyre degradation then increases rapidly, making it much more difficult for the driver to maintain a competitive pace throughout an entire stint.
The SF-26 therefore had sufficient aerodynamic load for the Hungaroring, but Ferrari could not consistently exploit it without pushing the rear tyres beyond their ideal operating window.
A Ferrari weakness already seen during the 2026 season
The Hungarian Grand Prix was not an isolated case. Ferrari had already encountered similar difficulties during the championship at other circuits that imposed considerable stress on the rear axle.
The changes introduced during the most recent Grands Prix have unquestionably improved the situation. Ferrari’s work on aerodynamics, energy management and the overall balance of the car has allowed Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to compete much closer to the front.
Nevertheless, Budapest demonstrated that significant work remains. The result also reinforced the importance of maintaining an aggressive Ferrari development programme during the second half of the season.
Why Mercedes and McLaren exploited the Hungaroring more effectively
The Hungaroring rewards cars capable of maintaining a stable balance from the beginning to the end of a stint. Mercedes and McLaren demonstrated a better ability to manage rear-tyre temperatures, allowing their drivers to preserve more grip during the decisive stages of the race.
Ferrari, by contrast, suffered more heavily from degradation despite possessing an excellent level of aerodynamic downforce. As the laps accumulated, the SF-26 gradually lost competitiveness because its rear tyres could not sustain the same level of performance.
McLaren’s performance was also supported by the team’s latest development work. The scale of the McLaren MCL40 upgrade introduced in Hungary attracted particular attention from Mercedes and contributed to the changing competitive picture at the front of the field.
The contrast demonstrated why aerodynamic load alone is not enough. A Formula 1 car must also preserve its mechanical balance and keep the tyres within a controlled temperature range if it is to maintain that performance over a full race distance.
The video also examines George Russell and Super Clipping
The episode addresses another particularly interesting technical subject: the so-called Super Clipping observed on George Russell’s Mercedes.
Through telemetry analysis, the video explains how a driver’s style can influence power-unit energy management and why two drivers competing with the same car can produce significantly different levels of performance.
The way a driver accelerates, manages deployment and approaches different phases of a lap can affect how the available electrical energy is used. This helps explain why differences can emerge between team-mates even when they have access to identical machinery.
Ferrari must improve rear tyre management after Hungary
Ten days after the Hungarian Grand Prix, the significance of this technical analysis has become even clearer. Many of the elements discussed before the Budapest weekend were subsequently confirmed during the race.
The principal limitation affecting Ferrari was not the aerodynamic updates themselves or an inability to generate sufficient downforce. It was the SF-26’s difficulty in managing the rear of the car under the most severe conditions, particularly when tyre temperatures began to rise beyond their optimal operating window.
The car’s development is evident, and Ferrari has made meaningful progress compared with the beginning of the season. However, Budapest provided another reminder that rear-tyre management remains a fundamental area for the Maranello team to address during the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
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