At the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari engineers appeared to have a stronger grasp of the team’s new battery systems than those working with Lewis Hamilton, according to F1 analyst Karun Chandhok. The difference in understanding between the two sides of the Ferrari garage was evident during the race and could have significant implications for energy deployment strategies in the coming events.
Race dynamics highlight strategic differences
During the race, Lewis Hamilton initially gained positions thanks to a well-timed safety car, which allowed him to save critical time during his pit stop. After overtaking George Russell at the start, Hamilton found himself in third place behind Kimi Antonelli, who also benefited from the safety car, and Oscar Piastri. However, by the mid-stages of the race, the seven-time world champion slipped back to sixth as Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Lando Norris navigated past him with better energy management and track positioning. This allowed Charles Leclerc to reestablish dominance in the intra-Ferrari battle after the setback he faced against Lewis Hamilton in the Chinese Grand Prix.
Energy deployment and battery expertise
Karun Chandhok, speaking on Sky Sports F1 after the Japanese Grand Prix, suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s concerns about a perceived lack of power on the straights were indicative of a broader issue. Throughout the race, the Briton questioned why he was being caught by Charles Leclerc on the back straight, despite both drivers running the same Ferrari power unit. This discrepancy points to the possibility that Charles Leclerc’s engineers have made faster progress in optimizing the new battery system, which features an electric motor nearly three times more powerful than last year, alongside complex ‘boost’ and ‘overtake’ modes.
While data-sharing between the two drivers’ teams will continue, energy deployment is expected to remain the central focus for Ferrari and rival teams during the long gap before the Miami Grand Prix. Karun Chandhok noted that whatever strategies were being implemented on Charles Leclerc’s side of the garage appeared to be more effective than those on Lewis Hamilton’s side, explaining the observed differences in straight-line performance. He emphasized that it is understandable for teams to still be working through the learning curve after only three race weekends in 2026.
Preparing for Miami: Monza tests and upgrades
Looking ahead, the Italian side is planning a crucial power unit upgrade for round four in early May. Although Lewis Hamilton mentioned the prospect of receiving a ‘new engine,’ the team clarified that only software adjustments can be made at this stage. These modifications are expected to help address superclipping and other energy deployment challenges currently affecting the team.
Ferrari is believed to maintain a competitive edge over Mercedes in cornering performance, particularly on slower circuits, while aerodynamic and energy strategies continue to be fine-tuned. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are scheduled to participate in a nominal filming day at Monza on 21 April, which will also serve as a test session for Ferrari’s new aerodynamic package ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
Implications for the championship
The contrast between Charles Leclerc’s and Lewis Hamilton’s battery performance highlights how critical technical understanding and engineering collaboration are in modern F1. The Japanese Grand Prix illustrated that even within the same team, slight differences in energy management expertise can have a tangible impact on race results. As Ferrari continues to optimize its power units and software before the Miami round in May, the ability of the Monegasque and the Briton’s teams to extract maximum performance from the battery could prove decisive in the championship battle.
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