Mercedes are bracing for a tough fight in Hungary, with team bosses warning that both Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari could pose a serious threat around the Hungaroring this weekend.
The Budapest circuit has traditionally suited cars with strong downforce and good traction out of slow corners, traits that have played to Ferrari’s strengths in recent seasons. With the Scuderia bringing updates to the car and Hamilton looking increasingly comfortable in red, Mercedes expect them to be right in the mix from the first practice session.
Hamilton’s return to a track where he has won multiple times adds another layer to the challenge. The seven-time world champion knows every bump and braking point at the Hungaroring and has often been able to extract performance even when the car wasn’t the outright fastest. Mercedes believe that combination of experience and motivation could make him a key factor in qualifying and the race.
For Mercedes themselves, the focus will be on maximizing their own package and trying to close the gap in race pace. Team representatives said they are not expecting an easy weekend, and that beating both Ferrari and Hamilton will require perfect strategy calls, strong starts, and clean execution across all three days.
With the championship battle still tight and points at a premium before the summer break, Hungary is shaping up as a real test. Mercedes are going into it expecting pressure from Maranello and from a driver who has made this track his own, and they know only their best will be enough to stay ahead.
