At the Hungarian Grand Prix, the summer break split F1’s 2026 season in half and laid bare the state of each team’s internal rivalries. For Red Bull, it was a moment of shock and promise. For Ferrari, the balance of power between veteran and newcomer remains tight. For Haas, the story is of a driver slipping further behind the wheel.
Red Bull’s surprise contender
When Isack Hadjar joined Red Bull for 2026, few expected him to challenge Max Verstappen. But Hadjar, 24, has already outperformed the four-time champion three times in qualifying this year. He’s within two tenths of Verstappen in most of the others. Whether it’s the new chassis, a lighter car, or Hadjar’s own raw pace, it’s breaking a long-standing trend.
The Frenchman has yet to claim a front-row lock, but his presence in the mix is reshaping Red Bull’s narrative. The team’s management has not officially commented, but the data suggests something is shifting — either in the car, the driver, or both.
Ferrari’s balancing act
Hamilton and Leclerc are locked in at 8-7 in team qualifying battles so far in 2026. But that hides a deeper story. Without the sprint races, the seven-time champion leads 8-3. With sprints, the gap narrows to 8-8. His use of the Maranello simulator has also been an oddity — he skipped it before Shanghai and Canada, and since then, he’s done better. When he used it, he lost 4-0. Hamilton’s early season struggles at Ferrari were expected. But his recent consistency suggests he’s finding his feet with the 2026 car.
Haas’s fading hope
Esteban Ocon is down 11-4 in qualifying duels with Oliver Bearman in 2026, and his situation is growing murky. His VF-26 is working as expected at only three of 11 rounds, according to internal reports. Team principal Ayao Komatsu says both drivers face the same inconsistencies, but that doesn’t hide Ocon’s drop in form.
The French veteran, 31, now faces speculation about his future. Bearman, the 20-year-old rookie, is holding strong and may already be seen as the team’s long-term project. Ocon has yet to find the kind of rhythm that could justify his place in the squad.
McLaren’s Norris and Piastri remain evenly matched, with their qualifying record tied at 7-7. No clear winner has emerged, and that’s typical for a team with high expectations and two strong performers.