Ferrari’s Hungarian GP strategy and a late Lewis Hamilton pit-lane speeding penalty turned a hugely promising Budapest weekend into a missed podium. Ferrari had started the 2026 Formula 1 event in excellent shape, only for its performance to fall away in qualifying due to a combination of factors, including the change in conditions that reshaped the battle for pole. It was a major disappointment because, if there was one Saturday on which the Scuderia needed to capitalise, it was at the Hungaroring.
Ferrari nevertheless approached the Grand Prix with justified confidence in its race pace, but the team was unable to convert its potential into a podium. At the chequered flag, the penalised Lewis Hamilton was classified fifth, while Charles Leclerc moved ahead of his team-mate to take fourth place.
Ferrari Hungarian GP strategy begins with a Soft tyre gamble
The sun is shining over the Budapest circuit, with a noticeable wind in the air, and everything is ready for the formation lap. Ferrari’s trackside engineers deliver their final instructions to Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who are focused and determined to attack from the moment the lights go out. The start is particularly important because gaining a few positions could transform the race for both Ferrari drivers, especially Lewis Hamilton after the penalties had shaped the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix starting grid.
Ferrari’s expected strengths around the Hungaroring had been one of the central themes of the weekend, with the circuit’s characteristics appearing to offer the SF-26 several potential advantages in Budapest. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton choose the red-sidewalled Soft tyres for the start, seeking additional grip, while the other drivers inside the top 10 opt for the yellow-marked Pirelli Mediums.
It is an important decision that puts both Ferrari drivers on a different strategy from their direct rivals. During the formation lap, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton use aggressive steering movements to bring the front axle up to temperature before completing three burnouts to prepare the rear tyres.
Charles Leclerc does not execute the clutch release well enough and immediately loses two positions. Lewis Hamilton, by contrast, makes an outstanding launch and gains two places. The seven-time world champion also has the slightest contact with Max Verstappen, but fortunately the SF-26 escapes without damage.
Lewis Hamilton is extremely aggressive during the opening phase and spends the first two laps tucked closely behind Max Verstappen, who closes every available door. The Ferrari appears to have more pace, but Lewis Hamilton is unable to find a way past.
Lewis Hamilton completes the undercut before Max Verstappen fights back
The situation remains unchanged over the following laps, while both Ferrari drivers are also instructed to manage the temperatures of their SF-26s. The brakes and internal components must be protected as carefully as possible. Unfortunately for Ferrari, the situation is clear: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are faster than Max Verstappen, but neither driver can overtake. Being trapped behind the Red Bull compromises the potential benefit of starting on Soft tyres.
Carlo Santi suggests different engine mappings and racing lines to help Lewis Hamilton maximise his exit from Turn 14, remain as close as possible to Max Verstappen and attempt an overtake. Ferrari mentions “Plan A” and a “flap update” over the radio, suggesting that a tyre change could be approaching. Lewis Hamilton reports that the balance is ideal and does not request any adjustment.
Charles Leclerc remains close behind and monitors the situation. Ferrari’s other concern is that the two McLarens are beginning to escape at the front, after Lando Norris claimed a breakthrough Hungarian GP pole on Saturday.
Ferrari attempts to change the complexion of the race by bringing Lewis Hamilton into the pits on lap 14 for an undercut. When Lewis Hamilton returns to the track, he encounters Arvid Lindblad in traffic. However, the British driver is determined and completes an impressive pass around the outside in Sector 2.
Lewis Hamilton pushes flat out for the remainder of the lap and ultimately succeeds in getting ahead of Max Verstappen through the pit-stop sequence. The Dutch driver refuses to concede, however. Using the slipstream, Max Verstappen attacks and passes Lewis Hamilton at Turn 1 after the Ferrari driver fails to cover the line effectively. As a result, all the work completed during the undercut is immediately undone.
Charles Leclerc also makes his first tyre change and returns to the circuit in seventh place.
Ferrari try the undercut again as Max Verstappen extends his stint
Both McLaren drivers make their stops, but they do not immediately regain the lead because Isack Hadjar has yet to change tyres. The Red Bull driver can resist the two McLaren MCL40s for only one lap. Once Isack Hadjar has been overtaken, he opens the door for team-mate Max Verstappen before immediately closing it again when Lewis Hamilton arrives.
Lewis Hamilton is carrying significantly more speed and forces his way past Isack Hadjar in Sector 2. By lap 20, the natural running order has been restored.
Ten laps later, Ferrari attempts another undercut with Lewis Hamilton. As happened during the first round of pit stops, the British driver returns to the track behind Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton can only overtake Isack Hadjar on the following lap and complains over the radio that the timing of the stop was not suitable for executing the undercut properly.
Lewis Hamilton flies on the next lap and attempts to recover the race time he lost in traffic. The objective is to gain the position from Max Verstappen once the Dutch driver eventually makes his second pit stop.
Charles Leclerc remains on the circuit, with Kimi Antonelli beginning to apply considerable pressure from behind. The Mercedes driver is determined to attack and is showing strong pace during this phase of the race.
Lewis Hamilton voices his concern over the radio, asking whether he will encounter tyre difficulties towards the end of the Grand Prix. Carlo Santi reassures him: “Now we take the position from Max, then we’ll think about managing the tyres.”
Charles Leclerc holds off Kimi Antonelli but requests a pit stop on lap 37. Ferrari brings the Monegasque driver in, and he returns to the track behind Isack Hadjar in provisional seventh place. Isack Hadjar cannot keep Charles Leclerc behind for long, as the Ferrari powers past the Red Bull on the main straight.
Lewis Hamilton remains fifth on the road and is effectively fighting Max Verstappen for third place. However, Max Verstappen chooses to extend his stint so that he can use fresher tyres during the final part of the race.
Lewis Hamilton keeps Ferrari in Hungarian GP podium contention
Max Verstappen finally makes his pit stop on lap 41 and returns to the track narrowly ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. It is a frustrating moment because the Monegasque driver could potentially have kept Max Verstappen behind.
At this stage, Lewis Hamilton’s tyres are 11 laps older than those fitted to Max Verstappen’s car. The Ferrari driver is also running on the Hard compound, while Max Verstappen has the Soft tyres. Lewis Hamilton follows the pace target indicated by the Ferrari pit wall.
The strategy for Lewis Hamilton is clear: keep the tyres alive for as long as possible and attempt to defend the position from Max Verstappen. Any realistic hope of fighting for victory has already disappeared, however, because Ferrari’s prolonged battle with Red Bull has ended its chances of defeating both McLarens. Kimi Antonelli’s position is another strategic concern because the Mercedes driver could potentially complete one fewer stop.
Charles Leclerc is now struggling badly. He complains over the radio that he has no pace and is experiencing problems with the car’s handling as well as the tyres.
Lewis Hamilton, by contrast, continues to set a strong pace and begins closing on Oscar Piastri. Only 2.2 seconds separate the Ferrari from the Australian driver’s McLaren at this point. Max Verstappen has also been gaining on Lewis Hamilton for several laps, leaving the outcome of the race difficult to predict with 20 laps remaining.
Ferrari Hungarian GP strategy unravels under the Virtual Safety Car
Three laps later, the race takes a dramatic turn. Oscar Piastri suffers a gearbox failure, prompting Race Control to deploy the Virtual Safety Car. Lewis Hamilton enters the pits and switches to Soft tyres, with Charles Leclerc doing the same.
Kimi Antonelli does not stop and narrowly avoids falling behind Lewis Hamilton. The order is initially unclear, and the Ferrari driver is ultimately instructed to allow Kimi Antonelli through to avoid receiving a penalty. On lap 58, Lewis Hamilton drops to fourth place.
Lewis Hamilton has fresh tyres, but Kimi Antonelli is running at a strong pace and will be difficult to overtake. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, does not make another stop and moves into a second place that had effectively been within Lewis Hamilton’s grasp.
Charles Leclerc has also switched to Soft tyres and is running fifth behind his Ferrari team-mate. With nine laps remaining, Lewis Hamilton receives a penalty for exceeding the pit-lane speed limit, adding another avoidable setback to Ferrari’s afternoon. The sanction compounds a difficult period for the British driver, who had already admitted that remaining positive was becoming increasingly difficult.
A weekend that could have ended in glory is ultimately thrown away. The battle was never straightforward, but Ferrari made too many mistakes across Saturday and Sunday, while its chosen race strategy did little to improve the situation. Charles Leclerc is classified fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth.
Formula 1 now heads into its summer break before the remaining rounds on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. Ferrari has time to reflect, reorganise and ensure it returns fully prepared for the second half of the World Championship.
Leave a Reply