Pirelli named the factors affecting tires in Hungary.

      The upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring will be the last stage of the first half of the season, after which the teams will go on a summer break. In the last two years, the track has undergone extensive reconstruction, affecting the paddock, hospitality areas, grandstands, and the track itself. For the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, sections of asphalt were replaced in the first and 12th corners. This was done in addition to last year when the asphalt was replaced on the pit lane and the starting grid. The length of the Hungarian track is 4381 meters, and the lap includes 14 corners. Due to its short length and winding nature, the Hungaroring is often compared to a karting track. There is only one full straight, the start-finish straight, which offers one of the few overtaking opportunities. The rest of the lap presents drivers with numerous corners, some of which are at a 180-degree angle, so car setups usually resemble those used in Monaco. Like in the Principality, Pirelli will bring the three softest compounds to Budapest. C3, C4, and C5 are ideal for the slow track, where the efficiency of the car on acceleration and stability during braking in numerous direction changes are crucial. Due to the age of the asphalt sections that have not yet been reconstructed, the surface has pronounced roughness, and the level of grip is one of the lowest of the season. However, the condition of the track noticeably changes throughout the weekend. The asphalt temperature at the Hungaroring is usually the highest of the season. Therefore, thermal degradation becomes one of the main factors affecting tire performance, especially on the rear wheels due to the high number of accelerations. Granulation may also occur on the softer compounds. It is expected that due to tire degradation, strategies with one and two stops will be close in overall race time. The choice between them will be influenced by the driver's position on the track, as overtaking at the Hungaroring can be challenging. In very high temperatures, teams will likely prefer the two hardest compounds. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Pirelli will remain in Budapest and conduct tire prototype tests for the 2027 season with Aston Martin, Audi, and Alpine on Tuesday and Wednesday.