At the Hungaroring circuit in Budapest, the McLaren Formula 1 team once again proved to be the benchmark in the technical, low-speed sections of the track. The MCL39 emerged as the fastest car in virtually every corner, thanks to a perfectly balanced package that combines downforce, traction, and precision on corner entry. When compared directly with rivals such as Scuderia Ferrari and the other top teams on the 2025 Formula 1 grid, McLaren displayed a clear and measurable advantage, particularly in the slowest sections of the Hungarian track, where front-end precision is crucial.
Throughout the first part of the 2025 Formula 1 season, the McLaren MCL39 has established itself as a reference point during almost every Grand Prix weekend. However, as with any Formula 1 car, certain circuits allow its strengths to be highlighted more clearly. Budapest is certainly one of those tracks. The layout of the Hungaroring seems tailor-made for the MCL39, to the extent that it feels like McLaren is racing in its own backyard.
So, what exactly makes the McLaren car so competitive at the Hungaroring circuit? The answer is not limited to a single factor—especially in the case of such a well-rounded and complete car as the MCL39. Nevertheless, this specific layout brings out several characteristics that make the car especially effective, particularly in the slower, more technical corners. While other cars on the grid struggle with either understeer or oversteer, the McLaren consistently manages to maintain an excellent balance between the front and rear ends.
We have already discussed how the MCL39 can be considered a “universal” car—one that is able to adapt to a wide range of circuit types and deliver solid performance across nearly all aspects of car behavior. Just one week earlier at Spa-Francorchamps, McLaren proved that it not only generates more aerodynamic downforce from the floor than its rivals, but it also knows how to exploit it better than anyone else.
This was particularly evident during the second free practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Lando Norris was directly compared with Charles Leclerc. The British driver was consistently faster through every single corner, while the Monegasque Ferrari driver only managed to edge ahead in the straights, thanks in part to engine mapping settings and partly due to Ferrari opting for a lower-downforce rear wing compared to their competitors.
Interestingly, on the first day of the Grand Prix weekend, the McLaren team opted for a higher-downforce rear wing configuration. This choice came at the expense of top speed on the straights, but the team was confident it would more than make up for it through the corners. Furthermore, they anticipated being able to count on an increase in engine power during Saturday’s qualifying session, which would help balance out the trade-off.
Another key strength of the McLaren MCL39 lies in its mechanical setup. The Woking-based team has found a way to run a softer suspension setup compared to its rivals. This choice proves advantageous in multiple areas: it enhances grip in low-speed corners, improves traction on corner exit, and allows for smoother rides over kerbs—all without compromising the stability of the aerodynamic platform in high-speed corners.
This capability is what gives the MCL39 such a decisive edge at the Hungaroring, especially in the slower sections of the track where Ferrari continues to struggle with understeer and a lack of responsiveness from the front end—a problem that has appeared several times during the 2025 season. These issues are especially noticeable in corners like Turn 1, Turn 2, Turn 12, and Turn 13. In particular, the third sector of the lap exposes Ferrari’s limitations, as the SF-25 cannot rely on long straights to make up for the time lost in tight corners, unlike the first sector where straights help balance the overall lap time.
This theme recurs across other parts of the circuit as well, but it is in the twisty sections where McLaren’s work over the past two seasons is most evident. Up until two years ago, these areas were among the team’s greatest weaknesses. Now, in those very spots that require extreme front-end precision to rotate the car without losing rear stability, the MCL39 has become a class leader.
This particular trait did not go unnoticed by Max Verstappen, who described it as “incredible” ahead of the Grand Prix weekend. The Dutch driver, who currently drives for Red Bull Racing, highlighted that even in medium-speed corners, the MCL39 delivers a stable and predictable response. With the current generation of ground-effect Formula 1 cars, it is common for the rear end to become unstable when entering corners. However, McLaren’s balance allows the driver to experience much greater rear-end stability.
Max Verstappen remarked that the McLaren’s performance in medium-speed corners stood out compared to every other car on the grid. He noted how impressive it was that the MCL39 could generate so much front-end rotation without sacrificing rear-end grip—something that every team, including his own, must try to improve.
This stable and predictable behavior makes the McLaren MCL39 extremely versatile. In medium- and high-speed corners, where aerodynamic downforce becomes a crucial factor, the rear of the car remains firmly planted and faithfully follows the direction set by the front end, minimizing unwanted sliding. This advantage not only boosts performance over a single qualifying lap but also plays a key role in race conditions by helping to preserve tyre life.
As of now, the MCL39 is the Formula 1 car that best exploits its technical package. It delivers a driving experience that is both linear and precise, giving the driver confidence in every phase of the lap. On a tight and twisty track like the Hungaroring, these qualities are amplified even further—especially when grip levels are low, as drivers reported during Friday’s sessions. Under such conditions, other teams may benefit more from the natural evolution and rubbering-in of the track surface as the weekend progresses. But McLaren, with its superior baseline performance, starts from a position of clear strength.
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