Ferrari made a major step forward with the SF-26 over the winter. Although the Italian team has not yet been able to establish itself as the leading force in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship fight, the progress made inside the Maranello factory has been substantial. In our view, the Ferrari SF-26 is the best Formula 1 car the Scuderia has produced in the last ten years.
That assessment is not simply based on isolated peaks of performance. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have been competitive at almost every circuit so far, while Ferrari has managed to remain within reach of a Mercedes W17 that has proved exceptionally strong. The SF-26 still has weaknesses to address, but its underlying platform appears stronger and more consistent than those of many of its recent predecessors.
How the Ferrari SF-26 compares with the last decade
Between 2016 and 2018, Ferrari developed a project that increasingly appeared capable of challenging Mercedes. The trajectory changed after the power-unit mistake made in 2019, which effectively removed the Prancing Horse from serious contention and forced the team to wait for another opportunity to rebuild.
That opportunity arrived with the new regulations in 2022. Ferrari immediately showed considerable potential, but the subsequent departure of Mattia Binotto and arrival of Frédéric Vasseur ultimately turned the following phase into something close to a transitional year for Maranello.
Ferrari’s biggest opportunity then came in 2024, particularly in the Constructors’ Championship rather than the drivers’ battle. However, the development mistake made around the Barcelona upgrade compromised much of the work completed up to that point. McLaren was able to recover strongly and ultimately claim the Constructors’ Championship, establishing momentum that continued into 2025 with another teams’ title and Lando Norris winning the Drivers’ Championship.
The comparison is important because the SF-26 has so far avoided the same type of prolonged competitive collapse. Ferrari continues to develop the current car, with a race-by-race SF-26 development strategy designed to introduce performance whenever new components become available.
Ferrari SF-26 has a strong base but tyre problems remain
The SF-26 is certainly among the strongest cars Ferrari has produced in recent seasons. Mercedes has set an extremely high benchmark with the W17, but despite that strength, Ferrari has generally been able to stay in contention. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have enjoyed competitive performance at almost every circuit on the 2026 calendar.
The main exceptions so far have been Austria and Hungary, where Ferrari struggled considerably more, particularly in extremely hot conditions. Those two weekends have raised questions over how effectively the SF-26 uses its tyres, with analysis suggesting a possible recurring weakness involving the Pirelli C3 compound in high temperatures.
Understanding the Pirelli tyres therefore remains one of the areas in which Ferrari must improve. The car’s underlying performance gives Maranello a solid foundation, but extracting that potential consistently across different temperatures, compounds and circuit characteristics will be crucial if the team is to make another step.
Ferrari must also continue progressing on the power-unit side. The development race remains particularly important under the current regulations, and Charles Leclerc has already urged the Scuderia to maintain an aggressive approach to SF-26 upgrades. If Ferrari can make similar progress with both tyre understanding and engine performance, it could gradually reduce the gap to Mercedes and put itself in a stronger position to fight for the Drivers’ Championship in the coming seasons.
Can Ferrari still fight for the 2026 Constructors’ Championship?
The 2026 Constructors’ Championship remains a realistic target for Ferrari. As Frédéric Vasseur’s mid-season assessment of Ferrari has underlined, however, progress alone is not enough when opportunities are being lost during individual weekends.
Much like in 2024, Ferrari’s chances may ultimately depend not only on what the Maranello team can improve, but also on whether its rivals make mistakes. Mercedes remains the benchmark, meaning Ferrari must maximise the potential of the SF-26 while being ready to capitalise whenever the championship leader leaves points available.
What Ferrari has already achieved with the SF-26 nevertheless represents an important change of direction. The car has provided Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with a competitive platform across a wide range of circuits. If Maranello can solve its remaining tyre-related weaknesses and continue making progress with the power unit, the SF-26 could become the foundation Ferrari has been searching for throughout much of the last decade.
Leave a Reply