Ferrari left the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix with another disappointing result, as Charles Leclerc’s seventh-place finish became eighth following a penalty for contact with Liam Lawson. The Monegasque driver tried to extract everything possible from the SF-26, but the car lacked the competitiveness needed in the conditions at Interlagos. Despite acknowledging the team’s strong race execution, Charles Leclerc admitted that Ferrari simply did not have enough pace, with significant improvements still required ahead of the final three races of the season.
The weekend left Ferrari with plenty of regrets. Tyre temperature difficulties, a lack of grip and traffic all complicated Charles Leclerc’s race, although a well-judged strategy eventually helped him recover positions. The result nevertheless highlighted the challenges facing the Maranello team as the championship approaches its conclusion.
Charles Leclerc explains Ferrari’s lack of pace at Interlagos
The start and opening stint proved particularly difficult for Charles Leclerc, who struggled to bring his tyres into the correct operating temperature window and find the grip needed to compete effectively. Although the situation improved as the race progressed, traffic prevented him from fully exploiting the performance available from his Ferrari.
“Our execution was good today, we simply didn’t have the pace in these conditions. At the start, I couldn’t get the tyres into the right temperature window and I had no grip in the first stint. Later on, I had the pace, but very little clean air,” the Ferrari driver explained.
His assessment underlined the difference between Ferrari’s execution and the underlying performance of the SF-26. While the team managed the race effectively, the car’s difficulties in the prevailing conditions limited what Charles Leclerc could achieve.
Ferrari’s tyre strategy helps Charles Leclerc recover positions
During the closing stages, Ferrari’s decision to extend the stint on a single set of Soft tyres before switching to Intermediates allowed Charles Leclerc to make up ground and climb to seventh position on the road. The strategy helped limit the damage and secure valuable championship points, although the final classification left him eighth following the contact with Liam Lawson.
“At the end of the race, by being patient and making the right decision to stay out on just one set of Softs before switching to Intermediates, we finished seventh and brought home a few points, but that’s not our objective,” Charles Leclerc added.
The importance of tyre management and the timing of the switch between compounds was particularly evident at Interlagos, where changing conditions complicated the race. Ferrari’s decisions helped Charles Leclerc recover despite the limitations he had experienced earlier in the afternoon.
Charles Leclerc calls for improvement ahead of final three races
Ferrari must now analyse what went wrong in Brazil and find a way to become more competitive over the final three rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Although Charles Leclerc recognised the positive aspects of the team’s race management, the overall performance remained well below expectations.
“There is a lot for us to learn from this weekend, and we will give everything we have for the final three races of the season,” the Monegasque driver said.
Charles Leclerc understands that difficult weekends can provide valuable lessons, sometimes even more than races in which everything goes according to plan. Nevertheless, the Brazilian Grand Prix reinforced a concerning impression: while Ferrari’s rivals appear to be making progress, the Maranello team seems to be moving in the opposite direction, with signs that its competitiveness may actually be deteriorating.
Addressing that trend will be essential if Ferrari is to finish the championship on a stronger note and avoid further disappointing performances in the remaining races.
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