Ferrari’s 2026 F1 title challenge looks increasingly credible after the SF-26 proved at Spa-Francorchamps that it can compete even at circuits the team expected to expose its weaknesses. Following Charles Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone, the Monegasque driver’s second place at Spa-Francorchamps, within touching distance of Kimi Antonelli, provided further confirmation of the quality of Ferrari’s technical project.
Although Mercedes has won eight of the ten races held so far, the championship is considerably more open than it might appear. Following the tenth round of the season, the highest-placed Ferrari driver sits 45 points behind the championship leader. That represents Ferrari’s second-best position at this stage of a season since 2019.
Ferrari’s 2026 F1 title challenge compares favourably with 2022
Only Charles Leclerc had been closer to the championship lead during that period, in 2022, when the campaign initially appeared capable of delivering Ferrari’s long-awaited revival. However, the F1-75 had its principal strengths weakened by technical directive TD038, which restricted the use of the so-called flexi floor. The consequences were significant enough to convince Ferrari to freeze the car’s development before the summer break.
Project 678, Ferrari’s current SF-26, appears to possess much greater development potential. From a constructors’ championship perspective, the 2026 campaign is Ferrari’s second best since 2019 in terms of the deficit to the leader and its best outright in terms of points scored.
Ferrari can regret some below-par races from Charles Leclerc this year, but the problems encountered four years ago were more serious. During the 2022 season, the team suffered major reliability problems with the 066/7 power unit, while Carlos Sainz endured a difficult adaptation to the new generation of ground-effect cars during the opening races. The current situation therefore gives Ferrari a more stable platform from which to pursue its 2026 championship opportunity.
Ferrari’s technical strengths and development opportunities
Ferrari can approach the second half of the season with renewed optimism. Under the ADUO framework, the team will be able to homologate a second evolved specification of its 067/6 power unit, working within the group of components that remain eligible for development. Ferrari is already preparing an aggressive ADUO power unit development programme intended to deliver further gains later in the campaign.
From an aerodynamic and mechanical perspective, having a balanced and adaptable car represents a solid foundation upon which Ferrari can apply its next upgrades and extract additional performance. The first half of the season has already provided clear evidence of that potential.
The updates introduced on the SF-26 have delivered genuine performance, allowing Ferrari to maintain its advantage over McLaren and Red Bull while keeping pace impressively with Mercedes. This trend can be seen by comparing Ferrari’s race pace against Mercedes, using the average of the best 30 laps completed by the highest-finishing Ferrari driver and the corresponding average from the race-winning car.
Reliability and driver confidence strengthen Ferrari’s position
The SF-26’s overall reliability has been excellent, and that could become an extremely important factor during the second half of the season. Kimi Antonelli, for example, will probably have to homologate a fifth power unit because his third unit is damaged so badly that it can no longer be included in the normal engine rotation used by teams across the pool of homologated components.
The quality of the SF-26 is also demonstrated by the positive feeling Lewis Hamilton found almost immediately and the confidence Charles Leclerc has finally developed in the car. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have different driving styles, but the SF-26’s responsiveness to set-up changes allows both drivers to adapt the car to their respective preferences.
That versatility could prove just as important as outright performance. A car that gives both drivers confidence provides Ferrari with two competitive options in every race, something that may become decisive if the championship battle remains close.
Ferrari must exploit George Russell’s difficult spell
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc must now become Ferrari’s decisive advantage over the Mercedes driver pairing. Aside from his hard-fought victory in Austria, George Russell is experiencing his most difficult period since joining Mercedes.
The pressure created by Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable results explains only part of the ordeal the British driver has endured. If George Russell’s difficult run continues, Ferrari could find itself presented with a unique opportunity.
The Maranello team could fight Mercedes strategically by relying on both of its drivers, provided McLaren and Red Bull do not regularly insert themselves into the battle for the leading positions. Ferrari’s overriding instruction must always be to maximise the team’s overall result, regardless of the individual ambitions of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc must put Ferrari first
Ferrari needs a pit wall capable of issuing instructions that may be painful for one driver but necessary to achieve the best possible result. That must become the team’s code red, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc required to respect it in the wider interests of Ferrari.
Unnecessary internal battles must be avoided, such as the fight between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Red Bull Ring that developed because they were following different race strategies. Both drivers should remain free to race, but they cannot be allowed to damage each other’s results or compromise the team’s broader objectives.
Realistically, Ferrari has a much stronger chance of challenging for the constructors’ championship than for the drivers’ title if the current competitive trend continues over the next few races. That makes it essential for the team to make full use of Lewis Hamilton in the constructors’ championship fight while also maximising the contribution of Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari can continue to give both drivers equal opportunities, but only for as long as that approach remains compatible with achieving the best possible result for the team. Enzo Ferrari would surely have had no doubts about where the priority should lie.
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