Hungarian Grand Prix Approaches

By Bilal Ahmed — 22 July 2026 — 4 min read

Hungarian Grand Prix Approaches

The Cadillac Formula 1 Team is preparing for the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, the 11th round of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship. The Hungaroring circuit, a consistent fixture on the calendar since 1986, is known for its series of linked, medium-low speed corners. This track layout is often compared to a larger karting circuit or the Circuit de Monaco without barriers, and its short straights typically limit overtaking opportunities.

The central European plain’s hot temperatures during this period mean the asphalt at the Hungaroring absorbs significant heat, placing high demands on tyres. This often leads to races with multiple pit stops, where strategic decisions on the pit wall can create track position advantages. Test driver Colton Herta will participate in the first practice session, substituting for Valtteri Bottas, in addition to his own Formula 2 program.

Team Principal Graeme Lowdon noted that Hungary is likely to be another hot weekend, but the circuit characteristics might suit their car better than the previous week. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the first half of their inaugural F1 season, while acknowledging the ongoing need to improve reliability. The team aims to accumulate more mileage to better understand their package and develop the car, specifically stress-testing new brake drums and conducting race simulations with the MAC-26.

Both Valtteri Bottas and Checo Perez have considerable experience at the Hungaroring. Bottas won in the junior GP3 series in 2011 and has made a dozen appearances in the Hungarian Grand Prix, securing podium finishes in 2017 and 2020. Perez also raced here as a junior, achieving a podium in the 2010 GP2 series feature race, and has since competed in 14 Hungarian Grands Prix, with a podium in 2023.

Ferrari’s Prospects and Driver Expectations

Lewis Hamilton has stated that Ferrari needs to “come and fight for the win” at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. McLaren boss Andrea Stella anticipates Ferrari will be “extremely competitive.” In the last four rounds, Ferrari and Mercedes have each secured two wins, though Mercedes has generally held an advantage in outright pace throughout the season. Kimi Antonelli, who leads Hamilton by 45 points and George Russell by 50 points in the Drivers’ Championship, performed strongly in Belgium, overcoming a Virtual Safety Car setback to defeat Charles Leclerc.

Ferrari’s performance at Spa-Francorchamps was closer than expected, which suggests potential for the Hungaroring, a track with numerous corners that could favour Ferrari. Stella believes that in Hungary and the Netherlands, Ferrari will likely be the fastest car in the corners. Hamilton, who has a record eight wins at the Hungarian Grand Prix, has not contended for victory since his triumph at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix due to five-second penalties in the last two races.

Ferrari has been a benchmark in corners this year, with their power unit being their primary weakness, although they have recently narrowed the gap to Mercedes and Red Bull. Tracks like Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps demand strong power units due to long flat-out sections, but the Hungaroring is largely chassis-dependent. Energy deployment will not be a significant issue, making cars with superior chassis strong contenders. Some observers suggest a repeat of Barcelona, where Hamilton was victorious, could occur.

Despite these expectations, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur and Charles Leclerc are managing expectations. Leclerc recalled similar predictions before the Monaco Grand Prix in June, where Antonelli converted pole position into a win, and emphasized the need for caution. Vasseur noted that all teams will bring upgrades and that performance depends on execution, tyre management, and setup. He stressed that success is not guaranteed, and each weekend starts fresh, regardless of previous results.

Nico Hülkenberg’s Hopes

Nico Hülkenberg, an Audi works driver, did not score points at the tenth World Championship weekend in Belgium, finishing 13th. In contrast, Gabriel Bortoleto increased his points tally to 10 World Championship points by securing eighth place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Hülkenberg has competed in 13 Grand Prix races at the Hungaroring, scoring points on two occasions: a tenth-place finish in 2016 with Force India, and his best result of sixth place in 2010 during his debut GP season with Williams.

Hülkenberg expressed his eagerness for the Budapest race, stating that it is beneficial to head straight there after Spa. He believes their pace in the last race weekend indicated good potential, and his focus is on having a trouble-free race weekend. He highlighted that the Hungaroring is a very different circuit from Spa-Francorchamps and that setting up the car within a good operating window will be crucial. The aim is to achieve a positive result before the summer break.

This race marks the final event before the summer break, during which F1 will have three free weekends, with factories closed and design efforts paused. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team has completed its first ten races, covering 836 laps across 4,331 km. Their cars have finished 13 times out of 20 starts, with both cars completing races in China, Japan, Miami, and Great Britain. Valtteri Bottas’s best finish to date is 13th in China, where the Shanghai International Circuit also saw the team’s best combined performance with Checo Perez finishing 15th.