Hungarian GP recap: Late Hungaroring drama leaves Ferrari outside the podium. Ferrari finish fourth and fifth in 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Lando Norris won the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari missed the podium with Charles Leclerc fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth. The race at the Hungaroring, the 11th round of the championship and the final event before Formula 1’s summer break, featured multiple strategy changes, Oscar Piastri’s late retirement and a five-second penalty for Lewis Hamilton.

The starting grid and the competitive order seen during the opening two days of the Hungarian weekend had suggested that the championship battle could tighten before the summer interval. The 70-lap race also promised to place considerable strain on the cars and tyres, particularly because of the intense heat expected at the Hungaroring. Ferrari entered Sunday believing the SF-26 had stronger potential than its qualifying result suggested, having remained confident in its Hungarian GP race pace.

2026 Hungarian GP begins with contrasting tyre strategies

The leading drivers adopted different tyre strategies for the opening stint. Lando Norris started on the Medium compound, as did Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, George Russell, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad and Nico Hülkenberg. Ferrari instead placed both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton on Soft tyres.

When the lights went out, Charles Leclerc made a terrible start and was overtaken by both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri initially led the field, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli held fifth. George Russell endured an even worse opening lap, falling to 18th after experiencing a problem with his anti-stall system.

Oscar Piastri used the slipstream to pass Lando Norris, while Lewis Hamilton immediately began applying pressure to Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver was unable to shake off the Ferrari, and the two McLaren drivers exchanged positions at the front before Oscar Piastri reclaimed the lead.

By lap nine, the running order had stabilised and gaps were beginning to open throughout the field. Lewis Hamilton was the only driver able to remain firmly attached to the car ahead, continuing to chase Max Verstappen. George Russell, meanwhile, had already recovered to 12th as he attempted to rescue a race that had started disastrously.

Lewis Hamilton undercuts Max Verstappen during first pit-stop phase

Lewis Hamilton made his first pit stop on lap 14 and switched to the Hard compound. The British driver returned to the circuit in ninth place behind Arvid Lindblad, whom he immediately overtook. Max Verstappen attempted to cover the undercut but was unsuccessful, allowing Lewis Hamilton to move ahead.

Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc stopped on lap 17. At the same time, Max Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton after Liam Lawson held up the Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton quickly overtook the Racing Bulls driver, while Charles Leclerc rejoined in eighth and Oscar Piastri emerged in fourth.

Lando Norris came into the pits on lap 18, temporarily handing the lead to Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The McLaren driver returned to the track behind his teammate, in a race that had begun from a grid featuring Charles Leclerc on the front row and Lewis Hamilton in fifth.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli remained in the lead on lap 21, although Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were circulating approximately one second per lap faster. The Mercedes driver stopped on lap 23 to fit Hard tyres, returning Oscar Piastri to first place with Lando Norris following closely behind.

Max Verstappen occupied third ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Andrea Kimi Antonelli followed in sixth, with George Russell, Isack Hadjar, Gabriel Bortoleto and Fernando Alonso completing the top ten.

Second pit stops reshape the Hungarian GP order

George Russell made his first pit stop on lap 28 and fitted Hard tyres. By that stage, Charles Leclerc had caught Lewis Hamilton, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli had halved his deficit to Charles Leclerc’s number 16 SF-26 to 2.3 seconds. At the front, Lando Norris ran slightly wide and lost several tenths to Oscar Piastri.

Lewis Hamilton stopped again on lap 31 for a new set of Hard tyres. He rejoined behind Isack Hadjar but immediately completed the overtake to take sixth position. Andrea Kimi Antonelli caught Charles Leclerc on lap 33, before Oscar Piastri stopped one lap later and returned on Hard tyres in fifth.

Charles Leclerc made his second stop on lap 36 and also switched to Hard tyres. The Monegasque driver returned to the circuit in seventh behind Isack Hadjar, whom he quickly overtook. Lando Norris stopped on lap 40 and rejoined ahead of Oscar Piastri.

Max Verstappen came into the pits on lap 42 and gambled on the Soft compound. The Dutchman emerged only a few tenths ahead of Charles Leclerc. Four laps later, Lando Norris overtook Andrea Kimi Antonelli to reclaim the lead.

With 16 laps remaining, Andrea Kimi Antonelli brought the number 12 Mercedes into the pits for his second stop. The Italian fitted Hard tyres and rejoined in sixth, as the closely watched Ferrari-Mercedes contest at the Hungaroring continued to influence the podium battle.

Oscar Piastri retirement triggers late Virtual Safety Car

The race changed dramatically on lap 56 when Oscar Piastri suffered a gearbox problem. The Australian’s MCL40 stopped on the circuit, prompting Race Control to activate the Virtual Safety Car.

Lando Norris made another pit stop, with Ferrari also calling in Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli stayed out. Lewis Hamilton fitted Soft tyres and initially emerged ahead of both Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc in third place.

However, Lewis Hamilton returned the position to Andrea Kimi Antonelli because the Mercedes had been ahead at the pit exit. The Ferrari driver then came under investigation for exceeding the pit-lane speed limit during the stop.

The five-second penalty was confirmed on lap 67, adding another sanction to a difficult sequence of recent weekends for the seven-time world champion. Lewis Hamilton had already admitted that remaining positive was becoming difficult following three consecutive penalised weekends.

There was little further action during the closing laps. Oscar Piastri won ahead of Max Verstappen, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed the podium. Charles Leclerc was promoted to fourth because he had finished less than five seconds behind Lewis Hamilton.

2026 F1 Hungarian GP results

The championship will resume after the summer break, with Ferrari needing to recover from a Hungarian weekend that ended without a podium for either Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton. The remaining rounds on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar will determine whether the Scuderia can regain ground in both championship battles.