There was a second opportunity for Ferrari to fight for a significant result in the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Chinese Grand Prix, the second round of this highly competitive championship. Both Italian cars, the SF-26 of Charles Leclerc and the one of Lewis Hamilton, aimed to be prominent and make a meaningful impact on the race, showing that the Maranello team could once again challenge the front-runners. In order to achieve this, the drivers needed to take full advantage of the SF-26’s strong launch performance at the start, which is proving to be one of the car’s greatest assets this season, while also attempting to withstand the consistently superior race pace of the Mercedes cars. This was a task that proved to be far from straightforward, considering the level of performance demonstrated by the W17s in every session. By the time the checkered flag fell, Lewis Hamilton had crossed the finish line in third place, securing an important podium for Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc finished in fourth place, narrowly missing out on a higher result despite showing strong pace throughout the race.
Now let’s take a detailed look at how events unfolded for the Briton and the Monegasque at the Shanghai International Circuit: Ferrari’s cars once again demonstrated excellent initial launches off the line, continuing their pattern of strong starts that had been a feature in the early part of the season. However, Mercedes once again showed that their overall speed advantage, both in qualifying and during race conditions, remained a decisive factor. Both Maranello drivers went through the standard and meticulous pre-race checks, including verification of the power unit, transmission, braking systems, and the hybrid energy deployment system, to ensure that the cars were operating at peak efficiency. Once these checks were completed, the drivers headed out for the installation lap, during which several instructions were communicated regarding the optimal management of energy and hybrid deployment during the formation lap. Additional guidance was given regarding tire temperature management, especially for the front tires, which in the past have been known to lose heat very quickly, potentially affecting performance in the opening corners.
As the cars returned to the grid and waited for the green light to start the race, it was clear that all preparations were complete, but there were a few notable absences. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri did not take part in the Grand Prix due to issues with their respective power units, reducing the number of cars in contention and slightly affecting the competitive dynamics at the front of the field. When the lights went out, Lewis Hamilton launched perfectly from the grid, taking immediate control and moving into first position by the time he reached Turn 1. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, was able to overtake George Russell and temporarily secure third position behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who had started from pole. On lap two, the Italian reclaimed the lead, demonstrating the strength and pace of the Mercedes car. Similarly, George Russell executed a strategic overtaking maneuver on Charles Leclerc on lap three using his overtake system, leaving the two SF-26s in second and fourth positions. Ferrari engineers on the pit wall instructed both drivers to manage their tire compounds carefully, emphasizing the importance of avoiding excessive aggression through certain high-stress corners, such as Turn 7, in order to preserve tire life for later in the race.
Lewis Hamilton followed these instructions but encountered some difficulty with imperfect battery energy deployment, which limited his ability to fully exploit the overtake mode when necessary. This led to repeated complaints over the radio as he attempted to find the optimal balance between power deployment and tire management. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc maintained a composed approach, carefully managing his tires during the early stages of the race to preserve their durability, while continuously staying close to his teammate. The Monegasque believed that his race pace was slightly superior to that of Lewis Hamilton, giving him confidence that he could overtake when the opportunity arose and attempt to close the gap to the leading Mercedes cars.
A pivotal moment occurred on lap 11 when the Safety Car was deployed due to an issue with an Aston Martin. The top four drivers immediately carried out their pit stops, while other drivers like Franco Colapinto, Esteban Ocon, and Arvid Lindblad chose to remain on track. This shuffled the running order, placing Lewis Hamilton in fifth position behind George Russell, with Charles Leclerc falling to seventh place. During this phase, the drivers reported issues with graining and cold tires, particularly under double yellow conditions, which made maintaining optimal grip challenging. Fortunately, this was a problem that all drivers faced equally and would be addressed once racing resumed.
When the race restarted on lap 14, Lewis Hamilton was quick to take advantage of a slight hesitation by George Russell in Turn 2, moving up into second place. The Briton then overtook Esteban Ocon to secure third position and subsequently passed Franco Colapinto to move into second place. At the same time, Charles Leclerc also executed smart overtaking moves, using traffic effectively to pass George Russell and move into third. Both Ferrari drivers were now in strong positions, with Lewis Hamilton pressuring Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who continued to maintain a very competitive pace. Ferrari engineers on the pit wall discussed following their pre-determined Plan A for tire and race management, emphasizing the importance of preserving tire life while keeping competitive lap times. Despite their clean and efficient racing lines, both SF-26s were still lacking the raw power needed to challenge the Mercedes cars directly over a full race distance.
The internal battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc intensified as the race progressed. Ferrari engineers continued to provide instructions to their drivers on optimal tire management, including guidance on cornering speeds, braking points, and rotational strategies to reduce wear. By lap 21, Kimi Antonelli remained in the lead, followed by the two Ferraris and George Russell closing in behind Leclerc. Although Russell had overtake mode available, he was unable to pass immediately, while Charles Leclerc used his overtake strategically to defend against Hamilton. Two laps later, Antonelli extended his gap to approximately two seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while Russell prepared for a potential double overtake on the Ferrari cars. Leclerc then launched an aggressive move on Hamilton, successfully overtaking him. The Briton attempted to respond, but his Maranello teammate defended his position skillfully. This allowed Antonelli to pull a lead of nearly five seconds, while Russell remained close to Lewis Hamilton. Later, Lewis Hamilton managed to pass Leclerc on the straight using the energy deployment system, but Charles remained firmly attached to his teammate’s rear wing, maintaining close proximity and pressure.
Throughout the latter stages of the race, the two Ferraris engaged in a continuous internal duel, swapping positions several times. As expected, George Russell was able to pass Lewis Hamilton and set his sights on Charles Leclerc. Mercedes clearly demonstrated its superior pace, but for a period of the race, the Italian cars effectively held the German cars at bay, showcasing the aerodynamic efficiency and straight-line performance of the SF-26. Despite this, the W17s had a clear advantage in deployment and engine power, allowing them to gain significant time when required.
In the final phase of the race, it was evident that Ferrari’s only competitive battle was between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, as they fought internally for the final podium position. The Briton eventually secured third place, narrowly defeating Charles Leclerc in this intense internal duel. Over the course of the weekend, Ferrari established itself as the uncontested second force, with the SF-26 demonstrating exceptional chassis balance, high aerodynamic efficiency, and occasional capability to match Mercedes in pace. However, the W17 remained the superior package overall, indicating that significant work is still required if the Maranello engineers and technicians intend to challenge on equal terms over a full race distance of more than 300 kilometers. On a positive note, Ferrari’s engine showed excellent reliability, performing well even though it is still down on power compared to the Mercedes power unit.
Following a one-week break, teams will head to Japan, where Ferrari hopes to introduce updates to the SF-26, including optimization of the hybrid system and improvements to the aerodynamics package. At the finish in Shanghai, Lewis Hamilton celebrated his first podium with Ferrari, narrowly beating his teammate Charles Leclerc in a thrilling internal battle. While it was a positive weekend for the Scuderia, it was clear that further development and performance gains are essential for Ferrari to realistically challenge Mercedes for the championship over the course of the 2026 season.
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