Charles Leclerc’s remarkable pace during the closing stages of the 2026 United States Grand Prix suggested that Ferrari had made a major breakthrough with its latest SF-26 upgrades. The Monegasque was the fastest driver on track during his final stint, overtook Max Verstappen and recorded the fastest lap of the race. However, the impressive figures require a more cautious interpretation, as Ferrari’s two-stop strategy and Red Bull’s tyre choice played a significant role in creating that apparent advantage.
The result generated considerable optimism within Ferrari, particularly after Charles Leclerc finished second and Lewis Hamilton demonstrated strong pace of his own. Yet the difference between the Scuderia’s lap times and those of race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli does not necessarily reflect the true performance gap between the cars. Mercedes followed a fundamentally different strategy, allowing its driver to manage the final stages rather than chase the fastest possible lap times.
Charles Leclerc’s Austin fastest lap reveals Ferrari’s apparent advantage
The most striking evidence of Ferrari’s speed came during the third stint, when Charles Leclerc was running on Hard tyres. After reducing the gap to Max Verstappen, the Ferrari driver completed the overtake and went on to set the fastest lap of the Grand Prix with a 1:37.976.
That was substantially quicker than the best laps recorded by two of his main rivals. Max Verstappen managed a 1:39.237 on Medium tyres, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli posted a 1:39.086 using the same Hard compound as Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton also showed impressive speed during the closing stages, recording a personal best of 1:38.457. That made the seven-time world champion the second-fastest driver in terms of the lap-time comparison, reinforcing the impression that Ferrari possessed the strongest late-race pace.
There is no doubt that the SF-26 performed well, particularly on the Hard compound. The improvement in Ferrari’s Austin pace on Hard tyres was an important element of the team’s successful afternoon. However, the different strategies used by the leading drivers make these individual lap times an imperfect measure of their underlying competitiveness.
Why Ferrari’s two-stop strategy distorted the Austin pace comparison
The decisive difference concerned how the race unfolded strategically. Both Ferrari drivers completed two pit stops, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the Grand Prix using a one-stop strategy that placed him in a much stronger position during the final phase.
The Mercedes driver fitted Hard tyres with 32 laps remaining, meaning he had to complete more than half the race on that final set. Under those circumstances, matching the late-race speed of the Ferraris was neither realistic nor necessary.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli had already established the strategic advantage needed to control the race. Even while circulating approximately one second per lap slower than Ferrari during the relevant phase, the Italian crossed the finish line 13 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc.
That contrast is central to assessing the performance of the two cars. Ferrari’s faster laps were genuine, but they did not translate into a challenge for victory because Mercedes had positioned itself more effectively through its pit-stop strategy.
The difference between tyre compounds, stint lengths and their impact on performance can also be examined through the F1 tyre and stint analysis. Comparing the drivers’ running conditions is essential when interpreting the apparent speed advantage Ferrari enjoyed during the final laps.
Red Bull’s Medium tyre decision helped Charles Leclerc secure second place
Ferrari’s advantage over Max Verstappen also requires consideration of the strategic decisions made by Red Bull. The Milton Keynes team opted for Medium tyres rather than the Hard compound, a choice that proved costly in the battle for second place.
Charles Leclerc was able to make effective use of the white-marked tyres, close the gap and pass the Red Bull driver. The performance of the SF-26 was encouraging, but the difference between the cars was amplified by the contrasting tyre choices.
Red Bull’s decision to use Mediums ultimately compromised Max Verstappen’s opportunity to finish second. Ferrari, meanwhile, extracted considerably more from the Hard compound, allowing its drivers to produce the fastest individual laps of the race.
The outcome highlights why finishing positions and lap-time comparisons cannot be separated from strategy. A driver can record substantially quicker laps yet still lose the race to a rival whose tyre management and pit-stop approach produce a stronger overall result.
Ferrari’s Austin upgrades worked, but their real impact remains uncertain
The caution surrounding Ferrari’s race pace does not mean the upgrades introduced at Austin were unsuccessful. The latest development package represented a genuine step forward for the SF-26 and provided positive indications about the team’s technical direction.
However, the size of the improvement should not be judged solely from the extraordinary pace recorded by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton during their final stints. Ferrari’s ability to exploit the Hard tyres, combined with its two-stop strategy and Red Bull’s less effective tyre selection, contributed significantly to the performance differences observed on track.
There is therefore a risk that excessive optimism following the United States Grand Prix could create unrealistic expectations about the car’s competitiveness. Although the SF-26 upgrades have produced encouraging results, further races will be needed to establish the true extent of their benefits.
That distinction is particularly important with two demanding Grand Prix weekends approaching. The characteristics of the next circuits could provide a much less favourable environment for Ferrari than the conditions encountered in Texas.
Mexico and Brazil could expose Ferrari’s remaining weaknesses
The next major test comes in Mexico City, where the circuit’s altitude of approximately 2,250 metres above sea level creates particularly demanding conditions for Formula 1 power units.
The thinner air is expected to present a significant challenge for Ferrari, making the Mexican Grand Prix a very different proposition from Austin. The power-unit demands will add to the difficulties facing the Maranello team as it attempts to maintain the momentum generated by its recent aerodynamic improvements.
These concerns are also reflected in the cooling and grip challenges Ferrari expects in Mexico, where the SF-26 will have to perform under unusual operating conditions.
The Brazilian Grand Prix could present another difficult weekend, meaning Ferrari may need to wait until the final three events of the season before drawing firmer conclusions about its latest upgrade package.
For now, the most appropriate assessment of Austin is that Ferrari made progress without necessarily closing the underlying competitive gap suggested by the race’s fastest lap times. Charles Leclerc’s performance was excellent, and Lewis Hamilton’s pace offered further encouragement, but Mercedes still won by 13 seconds through a more effective overall strategy.
The coming races will determine whether Ferrari’s improved speed represents a lasting change in its competitive position or whether the exceptional pace displayed in Austin was largely the result of favourable tyre performance and strategic circumstances.
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