Charles Leclerc, at the wheel of his Ferrari SF-25 single-seater, delivered what is arguably one of the most impressive and memorable laps of his entire Formula 1 racing career. The number 16 Ferrari driver took full advantage of rapidly changing weather conditions, significantly closing the performance gap that had previously separated the Maranello team from the McLaren MCL39 cars driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Hungaroring circuit. A sudden and sharp drop in track temperature, combined with a noticeable increase in wind intensity, contributed to improving the overall stability of the rear end of the Ferrari. These specific atmospheric and track conditions enabled the Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc to extract maximum performance from his car. Under these precise circumstances, Charles Leclerc was the only driver participating in Q3 who managed to set a faster lap time compared to his previous runs.
Charles Leclerc improves mid-corner speed and narrows the performance gap
By carefully analyzing the average speed data through various types of corners, it becomes even more evident how much the 27-year-old driver was able to reduce the performance deficit to the McLaren cars. Up until the end of the Q2 qualifying session, the Ferrari driver was losing, on average, around 2 kilometers per hour in the slower-speed corners and up to 5 kilometers per hour in the medium-speed bends when compared to the McLaren MCL39. However, this difference was not due to a drop or decline in performance from the McLaren side, but rather a clear and measurable improvement on the part of Charles Leclerc. During the course of qualifying, the track temperature decreased by an impressive 18 degrees Celsius, creating conditions that perfectly suited the driving style and car setup of the Monegasque Ferrari driver.
This significant drop in ambient and track temperature allowed Charles Leclerc to better manage tire temperatures, which is a crucial aspect of maximizing grip and car performance. Furthermore, guided with precision by his Ferrari engineers and technical team, the Monegasque was able to fully capitalize on this environmental shift by adjusting the tire preparation and warm-up procedure. He regained full driving confidence by reverting to some of the previous setup decisions made during the third free practice session. More specifically, Charles Leclerc requested that tire pressures be restored to the same levels used during that final practice session, opting for an increase in pressure to match the lower ambient conditions.
Other teams, however, were not able to exploit the change in environmental and track conditions in the same way. For instance, Mercedes driver George Russell struggled to bring his tires into the optimal operating temperature window, particularly in the slower corners of the Hungaroring circuit. In these types of low-speed corners, mechanical grip is heavily influenced by maintaining the correct tire temperature, which is in turn supported and enhanced by the suspension setup and mechanical efficiency of the vehicle.
Charles Leclerc closes the gap to McLaren in Sector 3
Expanding the technical analysis to specific sections of the Hungarian circuit — and not only examining corner-entry or mid-corner speeds — gives an even clearer and more detailed picture of Ferrari’s performance improvements. The most notable progress compared to the McLaren cars was recorded in the high-speed section of the track that stretches from Turn 6 to Turn 9. Onboard footage clearly revealed that, with the tires operating within their optimal temperature range, Charles Leclerc was no longer having to make steering corrections to counteract understeer in his Ferrari SF-25.
Instead, during Turn 9, Charles Leclerc had to manage a slight amount of oversteer, which is a characteristic handling behavior when the rear tires lose grip slightly before the front ones. Despite this minor handling challenge, the Ferrari driver gained an average of 5 kilometers per hour compared to his flying lap recorded during Q2, making him faster than both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, in that particular sector of the lap. Meanwhile, both Norris and Piastri experienced a slight drop in performance, particularly in the final corners of the Hungaroring circuit, where they were unable to take full advantage of the tire grip that had been a consistent strength throughout the earlier phases of the race weekend.
In this final portion of the circuit, performance levels among the top drivers were much more closely matched. Lando Norris managed to post the fastest time in Sector 3, but Charles Leclerc succeeded in limiting the gap to less than one-tenth of a second. This was largely due to his ability to prevent the tires from overheating through Turns 13 and 14. As a result, the Monegasque was able to benefit from greater grip and better mechanical traction, allowing the Ferrari car to perform at a higher level. On the other hand, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri appeared to struggle with vehicle handling issues, likely caused by tires that had become slightly too cold, resulting in reduced grip and compromised cornering stability.
McLaren holds DRS advantage for the race, but Charles Leclerc sets the highest speeds
To conclude the analysis, let’s take a closer look at the top speed figures recorded by the drivers during the third and final qualifying session. The remarkable lap delivered by Charles Leclerc is further highlighted by his speed data. The Monegasque driver was the fastest in the key corners analyzed, benefiting from a slightly lower downforce aerodynamic configuration when compared to the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. In contrast, both Norris and Piastri were among the slowest in these sections, primarily due to the additional aerodynamic drag created by the larger surface area of their rear wings.
However, this increased rear-wing surface area provides a significant aerodynamic advantage when the Drag Reduction System is activated. With the DRS flap open, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri achieved the highest speed deltas among the top drivers. This is a crucial factor that could prove beneficial during the race, especially in overtaking situations. Nevertheless, despite McLaren’s advantage in DRS-assisted acceleration, Ferrari’s excellent straight-line speed could make overtaking particularly difficult during the Grand Prix at the Hungaroring. In particular, on the main straight of the Hungarian circuit, Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari SF-25 might prove to be very difficult to pass, even for a McLaren benefiting from an active DRS system.
As a result, while McLaren may be able to rely on their aerodynamic efficiency and DRS advantage during the race, Ferrari’s high top speed figures — as demonstrated by Charles Leclerc in qualifying — could allow the Scuderia to defend effectively and maintain track position in the key overtaking zones of the circuit. This sets the stage for an exciting battle during the Hungarian Grand Prix, where the balance between qualifying performance and race pace could determine the final outcome.
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