Charles Leclerc’s hopes of turning pole position into a Hungarian Grand Prix victory evaporated on Sunday, as strategic misfortune and fading pace saw him tumble from race leader to fourth place.
The Ferrari star executed a perfect start, keeping Oscar Piastri and the rest of the pack at bay during the opening stint. For much of the first half of the race, Leclerc looked in control, fending off McLaren’s early undercut attempts and managing his tyres well. However, Ferrari’s decision to commit to a two-stop strategy left Leclerc vulnerable as the race unfolded.
Lando Norris, running an alternative one-stop plan, emerged as the unexpected threat. As Leclerc’s second set of tyres began to degrade, Norris’s consistency allowed him to leapfrog both Ferraris and McLarens on two-stop runs. Piastri then chased down Norris in a dramatic late battle for the win, leaving Leclerc struggling to keep up.
To compound his woes, Leclerc’s defence against George Russell was deemed too aggressive, earning him a five-second penalty that dropped him out of podium contention. Russell sailed through to claim third, while Leclerc had to settle for a frustrating fourth – a far cry from the victory many had expected after his strong qualifying performance.
Reflecting on the result, the Monegasque driver faces questions about Ferrari’s race strategy and whether he could have done more to defend his lead. With the summer break looming, Leclerc will hope this setback is only a blip as he continues his hunt for a long-awaited return to the top step of the podium.
