Which drivers are favored to win the Hungarian Grand Prix?
The 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix takes place Sunday, July 26, at the Hungaroring racetrack in Mogyorod, Hungary, near Budapest. It is the 11th and last race of the 2026 season, before the summer break.
The practice sessions begin on Friday, with a third practice on Saturday along with the qualifying session. Sunday’s race starts at 3 pm local time and runs for 70 laps or 120 minutes. Let’s see which team and driver are the best option for this Hungarian Grand Prix prediction at PayPerHead.
How has Kimi Antonelli dominated the 2026 season?
The 2026 season so far:
| Date | Country | Winner | Team |
| March 8 | Australia | George Russell | Mercedes |
| March 15 | China | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| March 29 | Japan | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| May 3 | Miami | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| May 24 | Canada | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| June 7 | Monaco | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| June 14 | Barcelona | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| June 28 | Austria | George Russell | Mercedes |
| July 5 | Great Britain | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| July 19 | Belgium | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
Kimi Antonelli continues to be the top driver this season, with 204 points for the Mercedes team. His teammate George Russell dropped down to third with 154 points. Lewis Hamilton of the Ferrari team has edged into second place with 159 points, while his teammate, Charles Leclerc, is firmly in fourth with 126 points.
How will the heat wave affect the Hungarian Grand Prix?
Europe has suffered a heat wave for the better part of the summer, and it looks like the trend will continue for the race weekend.
- Friday: 14°C in the morning, 26°C in the afternoon. Dry
- Saturday: 14°C low, 29°C high. Little cloud cover. Dry
- Sunday (race day): Slightly humid, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 32°C, and the track temperature peaking at 50°C. There is a 40% chance of precipitation once the race starts, but most of it will fall after the race, so a dry session is expected.
Who won the Hungarian Grand Prix in the past five years?
The first Hungarian Grand Prix took place in 1986, when Bernie Ecclestone brought it behind the Iron Curtain for the first time. That race drew a crowd of 200,000 and has consistently attracted many fans from across Europe, particularly Finnish and Polish supporters.
The track is 4.381 kilometers long. At 70 laps, the race totals 306.63 km. Its narrow and twisty sections have made it difficult to pass, to the point that in 1990 Thierry Boutsen held off championship leader Ayrton Senna in a slower Williams car, preventing him from passing. In 2003, the track was modified slightly to allow more passing opportunities.
Several drivers claimed their debut Grand Prix victories in Hungary, including Damon Hill in 1993, Fernando Alonso in 2003, Jenson Button in 2006, Heikki Kovalainen in 2008, Esteban Ocon in 2021 and Oscar Piastri in 2024.
The past five winners:
| Year | Driver | Team |
| 2025 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2024 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2021 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine |
Our top three in FP1 💪
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 24, 2026
1️⃣ Charles
2️⃣ Max
3️⃣ Lewis #F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/lOKnCkKbX4
What is the prediction for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix?
Because this tends to be a processional race, the qualifying session is very important. Overtaking is extremely difficult and is mostly done during pit stops. Kimi Antonelli is the leading contender to win, along with teammate George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton has won here eight times. He won with Mercedes the last five times, so he has a chance if Ferrari’s improvements make the grade. However, Mercedes seems well-suited to this track, as they excel in the twisty, high-downforce setups needed here.
Our Hungarian Grand Prix prediction is that Antonelli will win, followed by Russell and Hamilton. But watch the qualifiers to see who positions well.
