Lewis Hamilton warned that Ferrari will stall outside the front quartet at this season’s toughest circuits, with Mercedes still outpacing both power and energy management.
Mercedes power still ahead at Red Bull Ring and beyond
Hamilton cited the Red Bull Ring finish, noting Ferrari loses around four‑tenths in straight‑line speed. “Hard to recover that through corners,” he said on Tuesday, echoing Red Bull’s dominant performance.
He added that the power unit’s deficit could widen at Silverstone and Spa‑Francorchamps, where long straights magnify energy‑deployment gaps.
Leclerc echoes the challenge, eyes next races
Charles Leclerc admitted he lacked race pace in Austria and that “the next two races will be very tough” for the Scuderia, even after learning lessons.
He stressed the need to stay focused and push regardless of position, hoping to seize any points the SF‑26 can secure.
Power unit and energy‑management struggle
Hamilton explained that Ferrari’s lack of outright power means the MGU‑K shuts down for large portions of laps, especially on tracks with few spark‑charging corners. “Deficit could be twice as big,” he warned, citing limited battery life on Silverstone’s straights.
The team’s only upgrade so far, the ADUO, has failed to close the gap.
Strategic focus on gear‑suitable circuits
He urged Ferrari to extract maximum performance from every weekend, especially at circuits where the SF‑26’s strengths align, such as the Hungaroring. “A little bit of a closer battle could happen at Budapest because it lacks long straights,” Hamilton noted.
He dismissed the idea of a title challenge before the home grand prix, arguing that “Mercedes is a phenomenal team” and that rock‑solid synergy is off the table.
Red Bull’s emerging threat
Hamilton acknowledged that a 2026 development race could shift the order, citing a recent boost to Red Bull’s power. “Max has the power to match Mercedes now,” he said, predicting the German A‑C will be an outsider contender.
Conclusion: Ferrari’s uphill battle continues
In short, only the next races—especially those favoring the SF‑26’s core strengths—might narrow the chasm, but the Ferrari engine still lags its rivals, keeping the team from a serious title threat.
"