26 Jul 2026, 08:00
Formula 1
Hungarian Grand Prix
New customers only | Commercial content | 18+ age limit | T&Cs apply
Hungarian Grand Prix Predictions & Betting tips - Formula 1
by Devesh Jaganath |
On Sunday, Formula 1 heads to the Hungaroring for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli leads the Driver Championship standings with 204 points, 45 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while George Russell is in third place with 154 points. Let’s get into the race prediction.
Leading up to this weekend, there was a lot of talk that the tight, twisty nature of the Hungaroring would suit Ferrari down to a T, and largely, that’s how it panned out.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc impressed during Free Practice and even notched up a 1-2 finish in FP2, with Mercedes’ top-end speed proving mostly ineffective on the Budapest track.
Hamilton then delivered an excellent 1:17.219, which looked good for pole position in qualifying on Saturday afternoon, but Lando Norris produced a stunning final lap, going 0.012s quicker than the seven-time world champion.
Unfortunately for Hamilton, things got worse as he was soon issued a three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri by the FIA, dropping him back to fifth place for Sunday’s main race.
Owing to the penalty, Leclerc was bumped up to P2; Oscar Piastri will start in P2, while Max Verstappen will now join the second row after originally qualifying in sixth place.
George Russell, Isack Hadjar, Arvind Lindblad and Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the top 10.
Limited Offer. Currently at Stake
Hungarian Grand Prix - Formula 1 prediction key points
- Charles Leclerc went fastest in FP1 of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
- Charles Leclerc went second-fastest in FP2 of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
- Charles Leclerc will start the Hungarian Grand Prix in P2.
- The Hungaroring is strongly suited to Ferrari’s strengths.
- Charles Leclerc is fourth in the 2026 Driver Championship standings.
Limited Offer. Currently at Stake
Our Hungarian Grand Prix - Formula 1 prediction
While there were several talking points from Free Practice and in qualifying, the one message that was clear in the lead-up to the Hungarian Grand Prix is that Mercedes are unlikely to dominate on Sunday.
For us, the Budapest track has played perfectly into the hands of Ferrari, and with the SF-26’s claiming P2 and P3 (before Hamilton’s grid penalty), we feel that the Italian team are a major danger this weekend. Our Hungarian Grand Prix prediction is Charles Leclerc top 2 finish.
Sportsbook Welcome Offer - 100% First Deposit Match up to €50
The welcome offer for bet365 customers is a simple 100% first deposit match bonus which can see you receive up to €50 in free bet credits. You need to make a qualifying deposit of at least €5 within 30 days of opening an account, then make qualifying bets equal to the amount of your deposit. The bets can be placed on any sport, as long as the odds are at least 1.20 (1/5). The bet credits are available for 7 days.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
