Ferrari’s resurgence during the 2026 Formula 1 season has reignited hopes of an unlikely championship challenge. Consecutive breakthroughs in recent races have significantly reduced the performance gap to Mercedes, while the continued development of the SF-26 has placed the Scuderia firmly back in contention for victories.
However, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali believes Ferrari’s path to the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships will not depend solely on outright pace. In his view, the battle for the titles could ultimately be shaped by Mercedes’ ability—or inability—to overcome the reliability problems that have repeatedly cost the Brackley-based team valuable points this season.
Ferrari’s momentum continues to build
After a difficult start to the campaign, Ferrari has steadily transformed the SF-26 into one of the fastest cars on the grid. Lewis Hamilton delivered the team’s first victory of the season in Spain before Charles Leclerc followed up with an impressive triumph at Silverstone, demonstrating that Ferrari is now capable of fighting at the front on very different types of circuits.
The recent improvements have also reshaped both championship battles. Lewis Hamilton has climbed to third place in the Drivers’ standings and now sits just 32 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Charles Leclerc has also moved closer to the front after ending his victory drought, while the Maranello team has reduced the gap to Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship to 78 points.
Although Mercedes remains the benchmark over the course of a full season, Ferrari’s consistent development programme—including further aerodynamic updates and the anticipated ADUO 2 power unit upgrade—has given the Maranello squad genuine optimism heading into the second half of the year.
Mercedes’ reliability could reshape the championship fight
Despite Ferrari’s progress, many paddock observers still believe Mercedes possesses the strongest overall package. The Silver Arrows have generally enjoyed superior consistency, even if Ferrari surprised many by matching—and in some phases exceeding—their pace at Silverstone.
That British Grand Prix weekend also highlighted one of Mercedes’ biggest weaknesses. Reliability has repeatedly interrupted the team’s campaign, with technical failures and mechanical issues denying Kimi Antonelli and George Russell crucial championship points throughout the season.
At Silverstone, Kimi Antonelli’s race unravelled after suffering damage to the left-front wheel assembly before later falling further down the order following a track limits penalty. Incidents like these have prevented Mercedes from fully capitalising on what has often been the fastest car on the grid.
Stefano Domenicali sees reliability as Ferrari’s biggest opportunity
Speaking about the championship battle, Stefano Domenicali suggested that the Italian side has every reason to remain optimistic. While acknowledging the pace Mercedes has displayed so far, the former Ferrari team principal believes reliability could become the decisive element as the season progresses.
According to Stefano Domenicali, Lewis Hamilton now appears fully integrated within Ferrari after adapting to his new environment, while Charles Leclerc is also beginning to unlock the full potential of the SF-26 after overcoming a difficult spell earlier in the campaign. The Formula 1 CEO believes both drivers are now operating at a level capable of delivering consistent results.
Stefano Domenicali also pointed out that the championship remains far from decided. Although Mercedes currently enjoys a healthy advantage, he argued that just one or two races ending in retirements could dramatically reduce the points gap. With reliability continuing to play such a significant role under Formula 1’s demanding 2026 regulations, he believes the title fight could remain open much longer than many expect.
Ferrari still has reasons to believe
With several major upgrades still scheduled for the second half of the season—including the expected ADUO 2 engine package and another significant aerodynamic evolution—Ferrari believes there is additional performance still to unlock from the SF-26.
If Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc continue delivering strong performances while Ferrari maintains its aggressive development programme, the Scuderia could keep applying pressure to Mercedes until the final rounds of the championship. Should Mercedes’ reliability concerns persist, Stefano Domenicali believes the balance of the title race could shift surprisingly quickly, turning what once appeared to be a comfortable championship lead into one of the most closely contested Formula 1 seasons in recent years.
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