Why beating Mercedes matters as much as victory for Ferrari in Hungary. Ferrari aim to cut Mercedes’ 73-point lead at 2026 Hungarian GP.

Ferrari’s constructors’ championship battle with Mercedes will be a major priority at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, even as the Scuderia pursue victory at the Hungaroring. With Charles Leclerc starting second and Lewis Hamilton fifth, ahead of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in sixth and seventh, Ferrari have an important opportunity to reduce Mercedes’ 73-point advantage.

Few would have believed at the beginning of the year that Ferrari would find themselves in a position to challenge Mercedes and become a potential threat—or at least a genuine rival—in the constructors’ standings. Yet Mercedes, although leading the championship as expected, hold a margin of only 73 points over Ferrari. The Maranello team, in turn, have a 90-point advantage over McLaren.

Ferrari’s Mercedes constructors’ championship fight becomes a race within the race

The gap to Mercedes remains significant, but it is not insurmountable. There is still a long way to go in the championship, with the Hungarian Grand Prix marking the conclusion of the first half of the season. Before concentrating solely on winning the race, Ferrari must therefore capitalise on the opportunity presented by the Hungarian GP starting grid and attempt to outscore the Silver Arrows.

With Charles Leclerc in second and Lewis Hamilton fifth, both Ferrari drivers will start ahead of the Mercedes pairing of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari’s minimum objective will be to maintain those positions and keep both championship rivals behind them. The grid order gives the Scuderia a valuable opportunity to strengthen its challenge after the pre-event data had already highlighted the importance of the Ferrari–Mercedes battle at the Hungaroring.

Ferrari must also pursue victory against McLaren

That does not mean Ferrari should abandon its pursuit of victory. The team does not often race at a circuit that suits the SF-26 while neither Mercedes is fighting at the front of the grid. Overcoming McLaren will therefore represent the other major obstacle Ferrari must attempt to clear in Budapest.

Charles Leclerc’s first lap will be decisive in the battle with the papaya cars. The Ferrari driver needs to emerge from the opening lap in the lead or, at the very least, retain second place. That is far from guaranteed, as Oscar Piastri will start third from the clean side of the track. The start could consequently have a major influence on Ferrari’s chances of converting its encouraging race pace in Hungary into a victory.

Ferrari warned against becoming distracted by Mercedes tactics

The key for Ferrari will be to avoid losing sight of the bigger picture. Its race strategies and possible scenarios should be clearly established from the outset, rather than repeatedly altered according to the positions occupied by the Mercedes drivers.

In our view, targeting a larger points haul than the Silver Arrows is the correct approach, but Ferrari must not be drawn into potential tactical diversions that could compromise the results of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Both drivers need to be placed in the strongest possible position, with the team focused on maximising its overall result.

If Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes produce a formidable recovery, that should not automatically be regarded as a Ferrari failure. Attempting to obstruct Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s progress through the field could ultimately lead to an even worse outcome. Ferrari’s best response is to execute its own race cleanly, maximise the opportunity created by the grid and collect as many points as possible.