Ferrari concluded the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc in third place, 0.243 seconds behind pace-setter George Russell, while Lewis Hamilton finished fifth. The session provided further evidence that Ferrari’s latest upgrade package is working, but it also reinforced the limitations that could make qualifying particularly challenging for the Scuderia.
The Maranello team introduced a significant package of upgrades in Barcelona, and Friday’s running already suggested that the new components were delivering the expected gains. The SF-26 has improved in several key areas from both an aerodynamic and chassis perspective, although the car’s power unit limitations remain evident.
At a circuit such as Barcelona, where power and energy deployment play a crucial role, that weakness is likely to make life difficult for Ferrari, especially over a single lap. As a result, the SF-26 does not appear capable of matching the Mercedes-powered frontrunners in the battle for pole position. The situation could be very different in race conditions, however, where tyre degradation and overheating are expected to become decisive factors.
Even so, FP3 represented a crucial opportunity to maximize Ferrari’s qualifying potential, an area where the team still needs to make progress.
Ferrari’s qualifying target after FP3
As has often been the case this season, both Ferrari drivers waited around 20 minutes before heading out onto the track.
Charles Leclerc was the first to leave the garage, fitted with a fresh set of soft tyres. His opening flying lap was just 0.076 seconds slower than the benchmark time set by Lando Norris. After completing the run, the Monegasque immediately returned to the pits.
As soon as Charles Leclerc entered the garage, Lewis Hamilton headed out on track with a new set of soft tyres of his own. Following his first qualifying simulation, the seven-time world champion placed sixth on the timing screens. The Monegasque later returned to the circuit on a used set of soft tyres but was unable to improve his lap time. He also reported vibrations at the end of the run.
After the red flag caused by Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac, both Ferrari drivers returned to the track using the same set of soft tyres. Unsurprisingly, neither was able to improve, with tyre degradation proving extremely severe.
Charles Leclerc impresses, Lewis Hamilton still searching for confidence
When the time came for the final qualifying simulations on fresh soft tyres, Lewis Hamilton completed his lap approximately seven tenths of a second behind the fastest time. The British driver still appears to be searching for the ideal setup balance and the confidence needed to attack the demanding corners of the Barcelona circuit.
Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, delivered an excellent lap. The Ferrari driver secured third place, finishing roughly a quarter of a second behind George Russell’s session-leading time. Overall, Ferrari does not appear to have the pace required to challenge for pole position. The realistic objective remains securing a place on the second row with at least one car.
However, Mercedes and McLaren continue to enjoy a clear advantage, particularly in terms of power unit performance and energy deployment.
Third row appears the most realistic outcome
Based on the evidence from final practice, Ferrari’s most realistic expectation heading into qualifying is a place on the third row of the grid.
While the upgrades have undoubtedly improved the SF-26 and brought it closer to the front-runners in several areas, the remaining power unit deficit continues to limit the car’s ultimate one-lap potential. That said, Ferrari can take encouragement from its strong race pace. If the Scuderia can secure solid starting positions, the combination of competitive long-run performance and effective tyre management could provide a genuine opportunity to fight for a podium on Sunday.
For now, though, the battle for pole position appears likely to remain a contest between Mercedes and McLaren, with Ferrari hoping to position itself as the leading challenger and capitalize on any opportunities that arise during the race.
Leave a Reply