Lewis Hamilton expressed concerns that Ferrari could slip in the Formula 1 standings as McLaren unlocks more from its Mercedes engine. After qualifying sixth at the Japanese Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver highlighted the gap to leaders Mercedes. Ferrari sits second in the constructors' championship, trailing by 31 points after two races.
Ferrari has challenged Mercedes closely in the early 2026 Formula 1 season, holding second place in the constructors' standings with 31 points fewer than the leaders following the opening rounds in Melbourne and Shanghai. McLaren, the defending champions, sit third on 18 points but have endured a rocky start, marked by three did-not-starts due to mechanical problems in those events. Despite this, McLaren showed improvement in Japan, powered by the strongest engine on the grid from Mercedes. Oscar Piastri led Friday's second practice and qualified third, with teammate Lando Norris in fifth. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took fourth, while Hamilton ended sixth, seven tenths behind polesitter Kimi Antonelli in another Mercedes front-row lockout. Hamilton appeared frustrated afterward, stating, “we’re just miles away.” He warned of McLaren's potential rise, saying, “They clearly have a good car, and as they start extracting more of the power of that Mercedes engine, then we're going to fall behind.” Hamilton noted Ferrari's power unit deficit against Mercedes, admitting, “Just on performance, we're hugely down to the Mercedes engine. What that is, we don't know.” He added his first Ferrari podium came in China last weekend. Leclerc echoed concerns about McLaren, saying, “I kind of expected them to make this kind of progress. They are a very, very, very strong team.” Both drivers emphasized the importance of development in this new regulations era, with Leclerc calling it a “development championship.”
