Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari faces a difficult task catching Mercedes in the 2026 Formula 1 season due to a power unit disadvantage. He said the team's engine trails both Mercedes and the Red Bull-Ford unit.
Leclerc stated that Ferrari hopes to gain an upgrade through the FIA's Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system after the Montreal race. The system will measure outputs from all five manufacturers to determine eligibility for further development.
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Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished fifth and eighth after struggling with severe rear tyre degradation during the Austrian Grand Prix. Both drivers expressed confusion over the sudden loss of grip in hot conditions.
Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari's extensive upgrades to its SF-26 car will not close the gap to dominant Mercedes at this weekend's Miami Grand Prix. Despite bringing the most updates of any team, Leclerc expects the Silver Arrows to remain ahead after winning all three races so far in 2026. He anticipates a tighter battle with McLaren instead.
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McLaren driver Lando Norris believes Ferrari would dominate the 2026 Formula 1 season if it improved its engine performance to match its chassis strength. His comments followed Lewis Hamilton's victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona Grand Prix.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has revealed that Formula 1 teams and the FIA are in talks about potential hardware tweaks to the 2026 power units. These could include larger battery capacity or increased fuel flow to improve driving dynamics. Recent regulation adjustments ahead of the Miami Grand Prix aim to address some issues, but more substantial changes may take time.
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Mattia Binotto, head of Audi's Formula 1 project, has pinpointed the power unit as the primary area costing the team performance this season. He emphasized that improvements in energy efficiency, deployment, and driveability could yield significant gains. The comments come during a five-week break in the F1 calendar.