Charles Leclerc arrives at the Chinese Grand Prix after securing a podium finish in the opening round of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Melbourne, but he is also aware that some of the advantages shown by Ferrari might not last for very long.
The Monegasque driver played a key role right at the start of the Australian Grand Prix. Thanks to a perfect launch off the grid, he managed to take the lead of the race into the first corner. During the opening laps he was then involved in an intense battle with George Russell, defending the lead before Mercedes’ strategy eventually changed the momentum of the race.
Reflecting on what happened in Melbourne, Charles Leclerc highlighted how competitive and exciting the opening phase of the race had been.
“The first laps in Australia were very fun, but I think soon we will all understand a bit better how to optimize battery management, and at that point overtaking could become difficult. What we saw in Australia at the start of the race might also disappear.”
The Ferrari advantage at the start
One of the most interesting aspects that emerged during the first race weekend of the season was the impressive launch performance of the Ferrari cars. According to Charles Leclerc, the SF-26 seems to enter the ideal operating window more easily than some of its rivals when it comes to achieving a strong start.
“I think it’s easier for us to bring the car into a good window to have a good launch off the line, while for Mercedes this aspect is more complicated.”
However, the Ferrari driver does not expect this advantage to remain for long. “I think in a few weekends they will understand how to solve this situation, and in a few races there will not be a big difference between the cars when the Grands Prix start.”
Ferrari aiming to reduce the gap
If Mercedes still needs to improve its starts, Ferrari meanwhile still has work to do when it comes to outright qualifying pace. In Melbourne the gap seen in qualifying was quite significant, but Charles Leclerc believes that it did not fully represent the true potential of the SF-26.
“I think the gap is not representative because we were really far from our potential in Melbourne,” he explained.
For this reason, the Monegasque driver expects Ferrari to be closer to its main rivals already at the second round of the championship, the Chinese Grand Prix.
“I expect to be closer in qualifying and even closer in the race.”
The Shanghai weekend, which will also feature the Sprint format, will therefore represent an important early test to understand whether Ferrari can reduce the gap that was seen during the Australian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc’s pragmatic outlook highlights the rapid development curve inherent in this new era of Formula 1. While the SF-26 currently enjoys a “launch window” that rivals envy, the digital nature of 2026 energy management means that software patches and mapping updates can erase such advantages in a matter of weeks. The Maranello team prepares for the first Sprint of the year and the focus remains on extracting that hidden qualifying pace. If Ferrari can marry their superior starts with a more refined energy deployment over a single lap, the “Prancing Horse” might do more than just smile in China—they might just take the top step of the podium. The race to optimize the SF-26’s potential is officially on.
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