Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton encountered significant issues with his Formula 1 car’s balance during the first two practice sessions for the Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring. Despite completing the sessions in fifth and sixth place, Hamilton was notably slower than his teammate Charles Leclerc, trailing by nearly half a second in the opening session and three-tenths in the second.
Unusual Performance Troubles on a Familiar Circuit
Hamilton, who holds the record for the most pole positions (nine) and wins (eight) at the Hungaroring, admitted that this year’s car has presented a vastly different challenge. Known for his expertise on this twisty track, he expressed his frustration at struggling to find the right feel with the Ferrari.
“Today was not a good day for me. Big, big struggle with the balance of the car,”
Hamilton said.
“A lot different to the previous years I’ve been here.”
Efforts to Address Inconsistent Balance Yield Limited Results
Throughout the practice sessions, Hamilton and his team tried several adjustments in an attempt to improve the car’s handling. However, the Ferrari remained inconsistent from corner to corner, making it difficult to pinpoint the issue.
He explained,
“We tried two different things. We tried rectifying some of the balance problems we had in FP1. We changed the car to FP2, and it’s just very, very inconsistent balance from corner to corner.”
Hamilton further clarified,
“So you can’t say it’s just understeer, you can’t just say it’s oversteer. It’s… just far from being on rails, and very, very out of balance. But I think it’s probably something to do with maybe high temperatures or something, so we’re going to try and figure that out for tomorrow.”
Challenging Prospects for Qualifying Amid Strong Teammate Performance
With McLaren drivers dominating the weekend so far, Hamilton’s chances of securing a front-row starting position appear slim. His teammate Charles Leclerc, having been more comfortable with his car setup, has maintained quicker times throughout Friday.
When asked about his prospects for qualifying behind the leading McLarens, Hamilton remained realistic:
“Charles has been quick today, so he’s generally been happy with the car. For me, I’m quite far off, so I highly doubt it.”
Implications for Race Day and Next Steps
Hamilton’s ongoing balance issues could complicate Ferrari’s strategy at the Hungaroring, a track where he has historically excelled. The team will need to identify the cause of the inconsistent handling, possibly related to high track temperatures, to enhance performance for qualifying and the race. How Hamilton adapts and how the engineers respond may determine Ferrari’s competitiveness against the dominant McLaren team in this European mid-season contest.