With the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix approaching, concerns are growing at Ferrari. The Brazilian Grand Prix was a major disappointment for the Maranello team, arguably its worst race of the season. Having struggled badly in wet conditions at Interlagos, the SF-26 now heads to a circuit that could deliver another frustrating weekend for Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Ferrari supporters.
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit features one of the longest straights on the Formula 1 calendar, surpassed by Baku, while its average speed is comparable to that of Monza, the Temple of Speed. Both the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix exposed significant weaknesses in Ferrari’s power unit, despite the introduction of the ADUO 2 upgrades.
Unless something unexpected happens, Las Vegas could produce a very similar picture. However, Monza and Baku were not the only venues to highlight the lack of power from Ferrari’s internal combustion engine. The most recent race in Brazil provided another particularly telling example, with low temperatures further aggravating the SF-26’s weaknesses. Similar cold conditions are expected to present another challenge in Nevada.
How the Brazilian GP exposed Ferrari’s power unit weaknesses
The Brazilian Grand Prix represented a worst-case scenario for Ferrari and the other teams using its power unit. None of the drivers competing for Ferrari, Haas or Cadillac managed to shine at Interlagos. Instead, all three teams endured what proved to be their most difficult race of the year.
However, the disappointing performance was not simply the result of the rain. Ferrari’s difficulties on the straights played a particularly important role, highlighting a weakness that remains unresolved despite the manufacturer’s efforts to improve its engine.
A comparison published by F1 Insights Hub, examining one of the best laps completed by Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc during FP3, illustrates the problem clearly. The Monegasque driver’s SF-26 was consistently competitive with the Red Bull RB22 through the cornering sections of the circuit.
On the straights, however, particularly the main straight alongside the pits, Charles Leclerc accumulated almost his entire deficit to Max Verstappen, approximately three tenths of a second. The comparison highlights how Ferrari could match Red Bull through the corners while losing significant time whenever outright speed became decisive.
The same weakness emerged during the race. With wet conditions preventing Ferrari from using its so-called Macarena rear wing effectively, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were unable to exploit that aerodynamic solution to help them complete overtaking manoeuvres.
The differences in recorded straight-line speeds can also be explored using the F1 Top Speed Comparison, which allows drivers’ speed data to be compared across different sessions and circuits.
Why the Las Vegas GP could be particularly difficult for Ferrari
The conditions in Las Vegas are expected to be dry, at least according to the current weather forecasts. This should allow Ferrari to make proper use of its Macarena wing, unlike in Brazil, where the rain restricted its effectiveness.
Nevertheless, the Brazilian Grand Prix remains an important indication of Ferrari’s unresolved performance deficit against Mercedes and Red Bull-Ford. The improvements introduced through the ADUO programme have not eliminated the difference in engine performance, particularly on circuits where straight-line speed is crucial.
On a high-speed layout such as Las Vegas, Ferrari therefore risks encountering the same difficulties seen at Monza and Baku. The long straights could expose the SF-26’s lack of power, while the relatively low temperatures expected in Nevada may create further complications for a car that has already demonstrated its sensitivity to colder conditions.
These concerns are particularly significant for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who will need to extract as much performance as possible from the Ferrari package during the final three rounds of the championship. The full 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix schedule outlines the practice, qualifying and race sessions awaiting the team in Nevada.
Ferrari’s familiar problem: Always close, but never quite there
Looking beyond the immediate difficulties, the 2027 Formula 1 season appears to offer Ferrari reasons for optimism. The FIA has confirmed two further development opportunities under the ADUO framework for the Maranello manufacturer ahead of the next championship.
However, expectations must remain realistic. As the latest FIA ADUO assessment demonstrates, Ferrari continues to face a considerable engine performance deficit against Red Bull and Mercedes, even with additional development allowances available.
For too many years, Ferrari has appeared to be just one step away from achieving its objectives. In one season, reliability has been the problem. In another, the team’s strategy decisions have proved costly. Tyre management on Sundays has also caused difficulties, and now the lack of power from the internal combustion engine has become another major obstacle.
Second place in the Constructors’ Championship has almost become a recurring outcome during Ferrari’s more competitive seasons, reinforcing the feeling that the team repeatedly comes close without taking the final step towards sustained success.
The recent comparison between Ferrari and Red Bull also illustrates how quickly the competitive picture can change, with the Brazilian Grand Prix proving particularly damaging for the Italian team.
Ferrari must limit the damage before turning its attention to 2027
Finishing the 2026 season as strongly as possible would be extremely important for the morale of both the Ferrari team and its supporters. With Las Vegas followed by the two Middle Eastern rounds that will conclude the championship, the immediate priority must be to limit the damage wherever possible.
There is little time remaining to change the direction of the current campaign, and Ferrari’s efforts are already increasingly focused on preparing for next season. The hope is that 2027 will finally provide the opportunity for redemption after another year in which the team’s weaknesses have prevented it from consistently fighting at the front.
For Ferrari, however, the familiar question remains: will next season finally deliver the breakthrough that has been promised so many times before?
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