Charles Leclerc: “Mercedes finds a jump with the PU that we lack, but we are closer in the race”. Charles Leclerc says Mercedes gained a power unit advantage in qualifying.

Compared to the Chinese GP, the gap to Mercedes has slightly decreased over a single lap, but the W17 still has an extra gear in qualifying, particularly making a difference on the straights. According to Charles Leclerc, however, this margin is expected to shrink in the race, with the SF-26 set to be closer to the front.

Ferrari had hoped that on a circuit where energy recovery is maximized, and with many zones to exploit aerodynamic efficiency in addition to raw power, the SF‑26 could approach Mercedes more closely. This expectation was only partially confirmed: the gap to the top fell from eight to six and a half tenths, yet the W17 remains the benchmark, especially over a flying lap.

After Melbourne, it was difficult to imagine that the gap could shrink drastically in just one week. The goal, then as now, was to progress step by step, experimenting with updates and continuing to push to leave nothing on the table — including testing that rotating rear wing introduced in pre-season tests, which still required further development.

The rotating wing was essentially an experiment in an early development phase. At the end of FP1, the team evaluated benefits and potential issues, deciding to shelve it for the moment. However, this element did not change the overall weekend picture, because even in Shanghai, Charles Leclerc experienced a qualifying session that was far from perfect.

A week earlier in Melbourne, he had suffered hybrid management issues in Q2, which then affected his final run. In China, small issues persisted, including a power drop on the last straight that impacted his gap to teammate Lewis Hamilton.

“It was a very frustrating session. I mean, first the problem with the toggle, then unfortunately when I finally had a good lap I lost half a second on the rear straight for some reason, during the second lap of Q3. We’ll analyse it and try to understand what went wrong,” the Monegasque said after the session.

Beyond this particular issue, Charles Leclerc did not hide the fact that in qualifying, the W17 remains the true reference, especially because, as noted after the Australian GP, when the Mercedes internal combustion engine reaches certain peaks, it facilitates energy management.

In many sections, Mercedes drivers hit top speed before the others, allowing for a more conservative battery management in the second sector. Specifically, between turns 7 and 9, a zone highlighted as crucial, it is evident how well Mercedes engineers have optimized MGU-K recharge usage.

It is a step Ferrari has not yet managed to achieve, leaving the SF‑26 behind even the McLaren. However, the Woking team faces challenges with lower downforce, extra weight, and a lack of full understanding of the Mercedes power unit. In race conditions, though, the gap appeared smaller — a factor that could prove significant, consistent with what was observed in Melbourne.

“I mean, it doesn’t really change the overall picture compared to our situation. In the race, we should be relatively a bit stronger than what we saw in qualifying. However, Mercedes still seems to have a small advantage,” Charles Leclerc added.

“In qualifying, for some reason, the Mercedes power unit finds a lot of time over a single lap. We still can’t find the same gain in qualifying, but in the race we are closer, so I’m still confident we can recover tomorrow.”

Charles Leclerc’s analysis highlights the technical sophisticated nature of the 2026 regulations, where “qualifying modes” are no longer just about fuel flow, but about the intricate harmony between the thermal engine and electrical deployment. While Ferrari’s SF-26 shows flashes of brilliance in the corners, the “clipping” experienced by Leclerc on Shanghai’s legendary back straight proves that Maranello is still playing catch-up in the crucial game of energy harvesting. However, if the race-pace data from Friday holds true, the Silver Arrows may find their mirrors full of red as the laps count down. For the Tifosi, the hope remains that the SF-26’s kinder tyre wear and more stable race maps will neutralize the raw horsepower advantage currently enjoyed by Russell and Antonelli. Tomorrow’s Sprint will be the first true litmus test for Leclerc’s confidence.