Ferrari is aiming to bring the performance of the SF-26 closer to that of Mercedes, while at the same time remaining cautious of McLaren’s growing threat in the battle for second place in the competitive order. Charles Leclerc addressed these topics extensively during his Thursday media session, offering a measured and analytical perspective on the situation.
Leclerc: “We hope the upgrade package will make a difference in our favor”
Regarding the potential impact of the upgrades on the competitive hierarchy, Charles Leclerc does not expect a dramatic shake-up in the pecking order: “It will definitely be quite unusual to see so many updates across so many different teams in a season with new regulations. I am sure that most teams will bring new packages here. I doubt it will significantly change the order we have seen since the beginning of the year. The gaps between some teams might shrink or grow, but I do not know how it will play out for us.”
Even when focusing specifically on Ferrari’s situation, the Monegasque driver remained cautious despite the extensive work carried out by the Maranello-based team during the break: “At least on our side, there is McLaren, which was very close in the last Grand Prix, so I think the package will make a difference, hopefully in our favor. As for Mercedes, I think they were too far ahead for us to catch them with just what we are bringing here. We can close the gap only up to a certain point. The important thing is not to lose ground.”
Although he is not expecting a major shift in the balance of power, Charles Leclerc believes that the Miami Grand Prix will provide crucial insights for the remainder of the season: “This weekend will be very interesting. I think it will define many things going forward, because there will be a new development direction and new opportunities to explore after this weekend and after analyzing the cars of the other teams.”
The impact of the 2026 regulation adjustments
As mentioned, alongside the updates introduced on the cars, Miami will also host the first race weekend — notably in Sprint format — where the regulatory adjustments decided by the FIA come into effect following observations from the opening races of the season. Among these changes is a system designed to prevent a car from completely stalling at the start, thereby avoiding potentially dangerous situations.
Charles Leclerc does not believe that this innovation, as also highlighted by the governing body, will limit the advantage that the SF-26 currently enjoys at race starts compared to its rivals: “Honestly, I do not think it will affect performance off the line. It is more of a system to prevent issues if someone has a really poor start. If you have a normal start, nothing will change for anyone.”
There is also the possibility of rain during the Miami weekend, particularly on Sunday. The FIA has introduced additional measures aimed at improving safety in wet conditions, a scenario that the new-generation cars have not yet experienced during a race weekend: “I think the strange thing about these cars in the wet is that you can actually end up going much faster at the end of the straights compared to driving in dry conditions,” Leclerc explained. “Using less battery means you do not suffer the usual power cuts. It is quite strange and counterintuitive.”
Some uncertainty remains regarding the risks of racing in wet conditions with these cars, especially given the clipping issues — although they are expected to be significantly reduced compared to the opening rounds: “Driving in the rain is not about bravery, you just keep your foot down and hope the cars ahead are not slowing down, assuming they are going at your speed,” he added. “In the past, this was an easy assumption. Now it is not entirely the case anymore, so you go flat out and see what happens. It is not a very pleasant feeling and it is definitely something we need to analyze further.”
One regulatory change that clearly satisfies Charles Leclerc is the reduction of maximum energy recovery from 8 to 7 MJ. This adjustment is intended to significantly reduce the phases in which the car cuts power to recharge the battery, allowing for a more consistent and aggressive driving style. This had been a major point of frustration for the Ferrari driver, particularly in qualifying sessions, where extracting maximum performance had become less about pushing the car to its limits and more about managing energy deployment effectively.
“I felt listened to,” Leclerc said. “Normally we are programmed to focus only on performance, but this time we put that aside to make sure these cars returned to being real Formula 1 cars, especially in qualifying. There were software filters and strange behaviors where if you went full throttle and then lifted off, something different would happen compared to what you expected. Now everything has been fixed: we can go back to driving on instinct.”
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