SF-26 loses edge in FP2 at Melbourne
The Ferrari SF-26 showed signs of struggle during the second free practice session at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, as Mercedes power units dominated the track. Charles Leclerc finished fifth in FP2, trailing teammate Lewis Hamilton and more than half a second behind the session leader Oscar Piastri. While Maranello remains hopeful that adjustments for qualifying will improve the car, Leclerc is cautious about the upcoming races.
Reality check after a strong morning
After a promising start in FP1, which had painted a rosy picture for Ferrari, the second session served as a reality check. The team’s focus on different work programs and energy management tests made it difficult to draw clear conclusions, but the results align more closely with pre-season expectations. Mercedes, in particular, looked highly competitive, with a package seemingly ready to perform at its best on Saturday. Race performance remains less certain, as the Brackley-based team may still face reliability challenges.
Charles Leclerc anticipates challenges in Melbourne and Shanghai
Speaking after FP2, Charles Leclerc highlighted the difficulties the team is facing with the SF-26. “We still have some work to do,” he said. “As I’ve always said, Melbourne and Shanghai are probably the two hardest tracks for me this season, and I always struggle a bit there. But I won’t make excuses. I’ll work hard to turn things around starting tomorrow.”
Setup adjustments planned for qualifying
Charles Leclerc admitted that Ferrari experimented with an aggressive setup in FP2, which didn’t deliver the expected results. “There are a lot of areas to improve on the car,” he explained. “I tried a fairly aggressive setup during the second session, but it didn’t work, so tomorrow we’ll go back to a more reasonable setup and see how things go.”
Confidence remains high despite early struggles
Despite the early challenges, Charles Leclerc remains optimistic. Ferrari’s engineers at Maranello are already analyzing data and planning changes to improve handling, energy management, and overall balance of the SF-26. While the first two rounds in Australia and Shanghai may be difficult, the team is confident that with proper adjustments, both drivers can remain competitive and push for strong results as the season progresses.
Charles Leclerc’s honest assessment of his “aggressive” setup failure highlights the fine margins teams are navigating at the start of the 2026 era. By choosing to revert to a more balanced configuration for Saturday, the Monegasque is prioritizing stability over raw experimentation, a move that could be crucial for Ferrari as they look to close the gap to a resurgent Mercedes.
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