State of Play After Three Rounds: Ferrari Show Promise but Face Key Test in Title Fight
Ferrari have made an encouraging start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, emerging as Mercedes’ closest challengers after three rounds. With consistent podium finishes from both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, the Scuderia sit second in the Constructors’ Championship—but questions remain over whether they can sustain a genuine title challenge.
The SF-26 has shown impressive early pace, particularly off the line, where Ferrari have arguably been the strongest team on the grid. That advantage has allowed both Leclerc and Hamilton to fight at the front, even leading races at different stages across the opening trio of Grands Prix.
Leclerc set the tone in Melbourne with a strong drive from fourth on the grid, battling for the lead before eventually securing a podium finish just ahead of his team-mate. Hamilton followed up with an eye-catching performance in Shanghai, claiming his first Grand Prix podium for Ferrari while briefly leading the race. However, he was unable to hold off Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, dropping into a fierce intra-team battle with Leclerc that provided one of the season’s standout moments so far.
In Japan, it was Leclerc who again led Ferrari’s charge, climbing from fourth to finish third, while Hamilton struggled with tyre wear and slipped to sixth. Despite that, Ferrari’s consistency—including strong Sprint results in China—has kept them firmly in contention, albeit 45 points behind Mercedes.
There are clear reasons for optimism within the team. Hamilton appears far more comfortable in this year’s car compared to his debut Ferrari campaign, regularly matching—and at times outperforming—Leclerc. Meanwhile, the Monegasque driver continues to demonstrate his speed and racecraft, giving Ferrari one of the most competitive driver pairings on the grid.
However, weaknesses remain. Ferrari’s lack of straight-line speed has been exposed, particularly against Mercedes, whose power unit still holds an edge. While the SF-26 excels in cornering, that deficit on the straights makes it difficult to defend track position—an issue the team must urgently address.
Strategic execution has also come under scrutiny. A questionable call in Australia, where Ferrari chose not to pit under an early Virtual Safety Car, may have cost them a stronger result and allowed Mercedes to maintain control.
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur has acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in straight-line performance, as Ferrari look to close the gap. Both drivers have also pointed to the competitiveness of the new cars, with Leclerc highlighting the tactical nature of racing this season and Hamilton describing the Shanghai Grand Prix as one of his most enjoyable in years.
As the championship heads to Miami, Ferrari find themselves in a promising but precarious position. With McLaren also showing signs of resurgence, maintaining their place as Mercedes’ nearest rivals will not be straightforward.
