Hungarian Grand Prix outlook
The Hungarian Grand Prix marks the final Formula 1 race before the August break, taking place from July 24-26. The event at the Hungaroring is anticipated to feature a competitive battle between McLaren and Ferrari. Lando Norris of McLaren secured pole position in qualifying, with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri scheduled to start behind him. Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes complete the top five starting positions.
Hamilton, who initially qualified second, received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Piastri during the session. Similarly, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, who qualified fourth, was penalised three places for not slowing sufficiently under yellow flags. Antonelli will now start seventh, behind his teammate George Russell in sixth.
Driver standings and team performance
Antonelli currently leads the drivers’ standings, holding a 45-point advantage over Hamilton and a 50-point lead over Russell. Russell’s car has experienced issues, particularly with time loss on straights, while Antonelli has shown strong form with six wins in 10 rounds. Hamilton’s recent performance includes a victory in Barcelona, a third-place finish in Britain, and a fourth-place finish in Belgium. Leclerc won in Britain and finished second in Spa.
Mercedes holds a 73-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ standings. Mercedes has secured eight wins out of 10 races this season, including the first six. Antonelli has contributed six wins, including five consecutive victories in China, Japan, Miami, Canada, Monaco, and Belgium. Russell has two wins in Australia and Austria, while Hamilton has one win in Barcelona.
Mercedes has achieved pole position in every grand prix this season. Russell secured pole in Australia, Canada, Barcelona, and Austria, while Antonelli took pole in China, Japan, Miami, Monaco, Britain, and Belgium. Hamilton holds a record 104 career poles, with his most recent in Hungary in 2023.
Circuit characteristics and upgrades
The Hungaroring circuit is known for being short and twisty, with 14 corners, making overtaking challenging. Engine power and straight-line speed are less critical at this track. McLaren is introducing significant upgrades for Hungary, including a new floor and aerodynamic components. They will also continue to test an experimental rear wing. Aston Martin is also bringing a chassis upgrade, with a new Honda engine expected at the Dutch Grand Prix in late August.
The 41st Hungarian Grand Prix will cover a total distance of 306.630km over 70 laps, with each lap measuring 4.381km. The race is typically held in high temperatures. The forecast for Sunday’s race indicates sunny conditions with temperatures reaching 32C and a moderate breeze, with a small chance of rain an hour into the race. The race is scheduled to start at 14:00 BST.
Hamilton has an impressive record at the Hungaroring, with eight previous wins. He can equal his record of nine wins at a single circuit, currently held at Silverstone. Alex Albon is set to start his 100th race for Williams at this event.
Past winners still active in Formula One include Fernando Alonso (2003), Esteban Ocon (2021), Max Verstappen (2022, 2023), Oscar Piastri (2024), and Lando Norris (2025). The lowest winning start in Hungary was from 14th on the grid by Jenson Button in 2006.
The 2025 race winner was Lando Norris of McLaren, and the 2020 race lap record of 1:16.627 was set by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. The 2025 pole position was secured by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari with a time of one minute 15.372 seconds.
Source: formula1.com
