Just a few races ago, Ferrari’s hopes of challenging for the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship appeared to be fading. Inconsistent performances, difficulties understanding the SF-26 and Mercedes‘ relentless pace had left Charles Leclerc with a significant points deficit. Today, however, the situation looks very different.
After victories in Barcelona and Silverstone, Ferrari has completely changed the narrative surrounding its season. Lewis Hamilton delivered his first Formula 1 victory in Ferrari colours in Spain before Charles Leclerc produced one of the finest performances of his career to triumph at Silverstone, a circuit that many expected to favour Mercedes.
With the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps now approaching, one question is becoming increasingly common among Formula 1 fans: can Charles Leclerc still mount a genuine challenge for the 2026 Drivers’ Championship?
The answer is far from straightforward, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Ferrari is no longer an outsider. The Scuderia has put itself firmly back into the championship conversation.
Silverstone may have changed Ferrari’s entire season
Charles Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone carried far greater significance than simply adding another trophy to Ferrari’s collection.
The British Grand Prix was widely expected to expose Ferrari’s biggest weakness. Silverstone’s long straights and demanding high-speed corners seemed perfectly suited to Mercedes, while many analysts predicted Ferrari would struggle because of its remaining power unit deficit.
Instead, the opposite happened.
Charles Leclerc qualified on the front row before taking the lead at the start and controlling almost the entire Grand Prix. Although Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s late reliability issue removed one of Ferrari’s biggest rivals, the Monegasque had already demonstrated race-winning pace throughout the weekend.
Leading 42 of the race’s 52 laps, Charles Leclerc secured the ninth victory of his Formula 1 career and perhaps the most important success of Ferrari’s 2026 campaign so far.
More importantly, Ferrari proved capable of winning at a circuit that should not have suited the SF-26 on paper. That achievement naturally raises expectations heading into Spa-Francorchamps, another circuit where Ferrari’s recent aerodynamic improvements could play a decisive role.
Where Charles Leclerc stands in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship
Despite his recent victory, Charles Leclerc still faces a considerable challenge in the standings.
Heading into the Belgian Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver occupies fourth place with 108 championship points. Andrea Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the Drivers’ Championship, while George Russell remains second and Lewis Hamilton sits third after his own impressive first half of the season with Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc trails Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 71 points, while the gap to George Russell stands at 46 points. He is also 39 points behind Lewis Hamilton. At first glance, those numbers appear daunting. However, Formula 1 championships are rarely decided with more than half a season still remaining, especially under the current scoring system.
Why Ferrari’s title hopes are still very much alive
There are several reasons why Ferrari should still believe it can fight for the Drivers’ Championship.
- Ferrari has won two of the last three Grands Prix.
- Charles Leclerc has rediscovered his confidence with the SF-26.
- Lewis Hamilton has become a consistent front-runner after adapting to Ferrari’s systems.
- The SF-26 is now among the strongest aerodynamic packages on the grid.
- Further power unit improvements are still expected later this season.
- There are still 366 championship points available.
Momentum can rapidly transform a Formula 1 season.
Teams that discover the correct development direction during the middle phase of the championship often become the benchmark by the final races. Ferrari appears to have finally reached that point after months of continuous upgrades both at the circuit and back at Maranello.
The remaining schedule leaves the championship wide open
The mathematics also support Ferrari’s optimism. With 13 Grands Prix still to be contested, together with Sprint weekends in the Netherlands and Singapore, an enormous number of championship points remain available.
History has repeatedly shown that reliability issues, Safety Cars, weather conditions and development races can completely reshape a championship battle over just a handful of weekends. If Ferrari continues winning races while Mercedes drivers regularly take points from one another, Charles Leclerc’s current deficit could shrink surprisingly quickly.
That is precisely why Spa-Francorchamps represents such an important milestone.
A second consecutive Grand Prix victory would immediately transform Ferrari from a team enjoying strong form into a genuine championship contender.
Ferrari still has work to do
Despite the optimism, Ferrari is not yet the complete package.
- The Mercedes power unit still appears to hold a slight advantage on circuits requiring maximum efficiency.
- Qualifying consistency remains an area Ferrari continues to improve.
- Energy deployment will become increasingly important under the latest FIA regulations.
- The remaining ADUO power unit upgrade could prove crucial later in the season.
Fortunately for Ferrari, the team no longer needs dramatic improvements across every area.
The SF-26 has become one of the most balanced cars on the Formula 1 grid, particularly through medium and high-speed corners. If the final power unit upgrades perform as expected, Ferrari could become an even more complete package during the closing stages of the championship.
Why Spa-Francorchamps could define Ferrari’s championship ambitions
The Belgian Grand Prix could become one of the most important races of Ferrari’s season.
Spa-Francorchamps combines long straights, fast corners, changing weather conditions and complex energy management. It is precisely the type of circuit capable of revealing whether Ferrari’s recent improvements are genuine or merely circuit-specific. A competitive weekend for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton would strengthen the belief that Ferrari can challenge Mercedes across virtually every type of circuit.
Another victory would send an even stronger message to the rest of the paddock: Ferrari is no longer chasing isolated race wins—it is chasing championships.
Can Charles Leclerc still become Formula 1 world champion?
The short answer is yes.
The championship remains in Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s hands, but Charles Leclerc now has something he lacked only a few weeks ago: momentum.
Ferrari finally appears to understand the SF-26, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are consistently extracting its maximum potential, and the development programme continues to deliver encouraging results.
With 366 points still available, the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship remains mathematically—and realistically—within reach. Much will depend on Ferrari’s performance over the next few races, beginning with Spa-Francorchamps. If the Scuderia can confirm its Silverstone pace at another demanding circuit, the conversation will no longer be whether Charles Leclerc can fight for the title.
Instead, the question may become whether anyone can stop Ferrari’s late-season charge.
Frequently asked questions
Can Charles Leclerc still win the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship?
Yes. Although Charles Leclerc trails Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 71 points, there are still 366 points available across the remaining Grands Prix and Sprint weekends, leaving the championship battle very much alive.
How many races remain in the 2026 Formula 1 season?
There are 13 Grands Prix and two Sprint events still to be contested, meaning a significant number of championship points remain available.
Why has Ferrari improved so much recently?
Ferrari’s aerodynamic upgrades, improved balance and better understanding of the SF-26 have allowed both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to fight consistently at the front. Additional power unit upgrades are also expected later in the season.
Why is the Belgian Grand Prix so important for Ferrari?
Spa-Francorchamps will provide one of the clearest tests of Ferrari’s overall package. A strong result on another power-sensitive circuit would confirm that the Scuderia has become a genuine Formula 1 championship contender rather than simply enjoying a temporary run of form.
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