Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari are enjoying a strong period of form ahead of the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, but he has warned that the SF-26 remains sensitive to changing conditions, particularly when temperatures drop. Despite encouraging results in Singapore and Austin, the Monegasque is refusing to regard Ferrari as the team to beat at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, identifying Mercedes as the leading contender.
Speaking during Thursday’s press conference ahead of the second race in the current triple-header in the Americas, Charles Leclerc reflected on Ferrari’s recent podium finishes and improved competitiveness. The Scuderia have built considerable momentum, but extracting the maximum performance from the car over a single qualifying lap and keeping the tyres within their ideal operating window remain crucial to challenging for victory.
Charles Leclerc believes Mercedes remains the Mexico GP favourite
Asked whether Ferrari could be considered the favourite for the Mexican Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was encouraged by the team’s recent progress but remained cautious about its prospects against Mercedes and Red Bull.
“Honestly, I think the teams are extremely close and we’re going through a good period. Both in Singapore and Austin, we maximised our potential, and I was relatively happy with the pace we managed to find. Are we the favourites for this weekend? I don’t think so. I think Mercedes remains the favourite wherever we go. Red Bull has also shown itself to be very, very strong recently.”
The assessment reflects the confidence Ferrari have gained from their recent performances without suggesting that the SF-26 has established a clear advantage over its main rivals. Charles Leclerc’s encouraging result in Texas has strengthened that optimism, as reflected in his belief that Ferrari can challenge for another victory in 2026.
Ferrari’s SF-26 still faces a sensitive qualifying operating window
Although the team’s recent results have been positive, Charles Leclerc has highlighted the importance of managing the SF-26’s sensitivity when temperatures fall. Finding the correct balance over a qualifying lap remains one of Ferrari’s main challenges, particularly when small changes in conditions affect the car’s performance.
Managing the tyres within their optimal operating window is equally important. Ferrari need to combine their improved overall pace with consistent execution in qualifying if they are to maximise their chances of reaching the top step of the podium.
The relationship between qualifying performance and changing track conditions can be explored through the F1 qualifying pace and sector comparison, while the team’s recent aerodynamic progress and the challenges posed by Mexico provide further context for the SF-26’s performance.
Ferrari arrives in Mexico with confidence but realistic expectations
The positive weekends in Singapore and Austin have given Ferrari reasons for encouragement, with Charles Leclerc satisfied that the team extracted the available potential from the car at both events. Nevertheless, the battle at the front remains extremely close, and the Monegasque expects Mercedes and Red Bull to provide formidable opposition.
Ferrari therefore approach the Mexico City Grand Prix with the ambition of extending their recent run of strong performances, while recognising that the unique demands of the Mexican circuit and the need for precise tyre management could prove decisive.
For Charles Leclerc, the objective is to maintain the momentum developed over the previous two weekends while ensuring that the SF-26 operates at its best when qualifying performance matters most. Ferrari have demonstrated their potential, but the driver remains convinced that Mercedes enters the weekend as the benchmark.
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