Kimi Antonelli expects an extremely close fight between Formula 1’s four leading teams at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the Mercedes driver confident that his car’s strength in slow-speed corners can keep the team competitive in Budapest. Fresh from his record-equalling Belgian Grand Prix victory, the championship leader must already turn his attention to the final event of the first half of the season.
There has been little time for Kimi Antonelli to celebrate his success at Spa-Francorchamps, traditionally known as the “University of Formula 1”. The next challenge arrives at the Hungaroring, where Ferrari are widely expected to be particularly competitive after producing a strong performance in Belgium on a circuit that did not appear ideally suited to the characteristics of the SF-26.
The narrow and twisting Hungarian layout should emphasise the strengths of Ferrari’s car while reducing the impact of its power-unit limitations. With fewer long straights than Spa, the Hungaroring offers fewer opportunities for Mercedes and its rivals to exploit their full electrical deployment and straight-line performance. Ferrari’s encouraging Belgian weekend has therefore strengthened expectations that the team could have a significant Hungarian Grand Prix opportunity.
Kimi Antonelli predicts a tight Hungarian GP battle
Speaking to journalists after the Belgian Grand Prix, however, Kimi Antonelli remained confident that Mercedes would continue to fight at the front, even without the exceptionally long straights that allowed the team to unleash its full power at Spa.
“I expect all four top teams to be very close because, obviously, there are no battery problems there,” the championship leader explained. “Power usage will be very balanced, so it will be another circuit where perhaps the situation will be a little more like Monaco, where you simply try to drive as fast as possible.
“It will be interesting. I think the fight between all of us will be very tight, and that is why it will be important to try to put all the pieces together.”
Kimi Antonelli’s comparison with Monaco reflects the different challenge presented by the Hungaroring. With limited opportunities to gain time through straight-line energy deployment, overall balance, driver confidence and the ability to execute a clean lap will become particularly important. Small mistakes could therefore have a significant effect on qualifying positions and the outcome of the race.
Mercedes confident in its slow-corner performance
Mercedes also do not believe they are substantially weaker than Ferrari through corner-heavy sections. Analysing the Belgian Grand Prix after completing his own Spa redemption, Kimi Antonelli explained that the two cars demonstrated their strengths in different areas of the circuit.
“Here in Belgium, Ferrari were good in free practice too,” Kimi Antonelli said. “Their long run did not look bad at all, so we knew they would be competitive. In the race, we only had confirmation that they were there, and they were very strong in Turns 12 and 13 compared with us.
“We struggled a little with the rear there, but on the other hand we were very strong in the low-speed corners. That is why it was not easy, especially to keep up in Sector 2. But we certainly expected them to be quick.”
That low-speed strength could become especially valuable in Budapest, where the tightly connected sequence of corners places a premium on traction, stability and confidence throughout the lap. Ferrari may arrive as one of the favourites based on the expected characteristics of the SF-26, but Kimi Antonelli believes Mercedes have enough performance to remain firmly involved in what he expects to be another extremely close contest.
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