Charles Leclerc eyes Hungarian GP challenge: “Mercedes is still the benchmark, qualifying will be a battle”
Charles Leclerc arrived at the Hungarian Grand Prix riding a wave of form, but the Ferrari star warned that Mercedes remains the team to beat in the tough and tough Hungaroring. After collecting 43 points at the British and Belgian Grands Prix, Leclerc has emphatically silenced the critics who questioned his contract renewal earlier this season. However, the Monegasque remains laser-focused, knowing that the final race before the summer break could prove crucial.
Reflecting on his recent resurgence, Leclerc credited flawless execution and precision: “I think the last few weekends the execution has definitely gone down. These cars are extremely sensitive to the slightest imperfection. It really makes a big difference on the track,” Leclerc said ahead of the Budapest weekend. “I strongly believe that over the last two weekends we have maximized these characteristics, and that is the most important thing, even more than the car itself.”
Despite Ferrari’s recent gains, Leclerc has no illusions about the scale of the task facing him in Hungary. “Personally, I still expect Mercedes to be the reference and it will be very difficult to beat them in the qualifying laps,” he admitted. The Hungaroring’s narrow layout, notorious for making overtaking a rarity, places a premium on grid position, and Leclerc knows Ferrari’s qualifying performance will be under the microscope.
Leclerc sees some potential for Ferrari at this particular circuit. “On paper, it’s a track that should be a little better for our car. Our strength probably lies in our cornering balance and grip. On a track like this, that’s fundamental. So we might be a little closer, but at the end of the day it all depends on execution,” he explained. “If you are in the wrong position even slightly, as we saw in Monaco, where we were not exactly in the ideal performance window, you lose more than the characteristics of the car on a favorable circuit. That’s what we are focusing on.”
The Ferrari driver also highlighted a unique challenge for Sunday’s race: he believes overtaking will be even more difficult than in previous years. “I think overtaking will be difficult because the overtake mode is not so effective on this track. In fact, I think it is even less powerful than DRS, so I believe it will be quite difficult to see many duels on Sunday,” warned Leclerc.
As the Formula 1 paddock prepares for the last showdown before the summer break, Leclerc’s words echo a clear message: Ferrari’s improvements are real, but Mercedes remains the target – and in Hungary, every detail will matter.
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