Leclerc calls out baffling Ferrari trend after Hungary letdown

Charles Leclerc says Ferrari must understand why its SF-26 excels at power-sensitive tracks yet falters at high-downforce circuits like the Hungaroring. After winning at Silverstone and finishing second at Spa, the Scuderia managed only fourth and fifth in Hungary.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's chassis is widely considered the best on the 2026 grid, which should make it a weapon at tight, twisty tracks where handling matters more than raw power. Failing to cash in on that strength leaves the Scuderia leaving points on the table, even if its engine remains a step behind Mercedes.

The details:

• Reversed expectations: Leclerc won at Silverstone and finished second at Spa, where Ferrari's power deficit was expected to hurt. In Hungary, a tailor-made venue for the SF-26, both cars missed the podium.
• A garage-wide issue: Leclerc stressed the trend affects both cars, ruling out individual brilliance as the cause. Both he and Lewis Hamilton lost positions off the line in Budapest.
• Execution errors: Hamilton qualified second but started fifth after a penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri in Q3. Team principal Fred Vasseur cited poor starts as a critical failure on a track with few overtaking chances.
• Leclerc's view: "With a good start, things could have looked very different," he said, noting the pace was there but undone by operational shortcomings.

The big picture:

This head-scratching trend suggests Ferrari's problems go deeper than simply matching a setup to a track profile. Until it figures out why its high-downforce edge isn't showing up on Sundays, the team is squandering its biggest competitive advantage.