Lewis Hamilton is still searching for the right balance with Ferrari’s SF-26 after a difficult opening day of practice for the 2026 United States Grand Prix, while teammate Charles Leclerc has already demonstrated the potential of the team’s latest aerodynamic upgrades. The contrasting performances at the Circuit of the Americas have highlighted two very different situations inside the Ferrari garage, although the gap between the drivers does not necessarily represent a definitive difference in their potential.
Charles Leclerc appeared comfortable with the updated SF-26 from the beginning of Friday’s running, while Lewis Hamilton spent much of the day searching for a setup that would provide the confidence he needed. Crucially, the two drivers were not working under identical conditions throughout the opening sessions, with the British driver having considerably less time to evaluate the complete new aerodynamic package.
Ferrari adopted a split programme during FP1, allowing Charles Leclerc to use the updated components immediately while Lewis Hamilton continued with the previous specification. The seven-time world champion only received the complete package for FP2, leaving him with less track time to gather data, assess the changes and adjust his car’s configuration.
This difference is an important factor when interpreting Ferrari’s contrasting performances. The team’s split-specification test during Austin FP1 was designed to provide useful information about the new developments, but it also meant the two drivers began their work with different levels of familiarity with the revised car.
Lewis Hamilton struggles to find confidence with Ferrari’s SF-26 in Austin
The main difficulties experienced by Lewis Hamilton concerned the behaviour of his Ferrari over the bumps and undulations of the Circuit of the Americas. The Texas circuit’s uneven surface places particular demands on a Formula 1 car, requiring an effective compromise between stability, aerodynamic platform control and the ability to absorb irregularities in the asphalt.
For the British driver, finding that compromise proved difficult during Friday’s practice sessions. Ferrari experimented with a different setup direction, but the changes did not produce the level of comfort or confidence he was looking for.
Speaking to Sky Sport, Lewis Hamilton acknowledged the problems he had encountered while also pointing to Charles Leclerc’s performance as evidence that the SF-26 possessed the necessary speed.
“It wasn’t the easiest day. We tried a different setup direction, but I didn’t feel comfortable with the car, especially over the bumps. Charles has shown that the performance is there, so we need to understand how to fine-tune my SF-26 as well as possible.”
The seven-time world champion’s comments underline how much of his Friday programme was devoted to identifying the most suitable configuration for his driving requirements. Rather than simply lacking performance, Hamilton was struggling to extract the available potential because the car’s behaviour was not giving him the confidence he needed.
Charles Leclerc’s stronger pace provides an important reference for Ferrari’s engineers, although that does not mean the same setup can automatically be transferred to the other car. The adjustments must account for each driver’s feedback, the behaviour of the SF-26 and the information collected under different operating conditions.
The contrast was particularly evident during Ferrari’s Austin FP2 performance, when Charles Leclerc demonstrated the competitiveness of the updated car while Lewis Hamilton continued searching for a more effective balance.
Ferrari’s different upgrade programmes complicate Hamilton’s preparation
One of the most important factors behind Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties was the limited time available to work with Ferrari’s new aerodynamic package. By introducing the updates on his car only during FP2, the team left the British driver with fewer opportunities to compare different configurations and understand their combined effects on the SF-26.
The latest developments involve several important aerodynamic areas, including the floor, sidepod inlets and diffuser. These components are part of Ferrari’s effort to improve the car’s overall performance, but their effectiveness must also be evaluated through the balance and behaviour experienced by each driver.
Our technical breakdown of Ferrari’s Austin upgrade package examines the changes introduced to the SF-26 and the areas targeted by the Maranello team’s development programme.
For Hamilton, receiving the new specification later meant the adjustment process was still at a relatively early stage when Friday’s running concluded. That makes the subsequent engineering analysis especially important, as the team attempts to understand why Charles Leclerc was able to find a more effective operating window.
Ferrari prepares overnight setup work to bring Hamilton closer to Leclerc
The period between Friday practice and Saturday’s running could prove decisive for Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari’s engineers will have the opportunity to compare the data collected from both SF-26 cars, identify where the British driver is losing confidence and evaluate changes that could bring his configuration closer to the balance achieved by Charles Leclerc.
The objective will not necessarily be to make the two cars identical. Instead, Ferrari must find the most effective compromise for each driver, ensuring that both can take full advantage of the performance available from the updated package.
Lewis Hamilton confirmed that the team would continue working in this direction, emphasising the value of experimenting during free practice and learning more about the available components.
“Free practice is always a good opportunity to experiment with new things and improve our understanding of the package we have available. This evening, we’ll work on analysing what we’ve gathered today and see where we can improve for tomorrow.”
The overnight engineering work, supported by the usual remote collaboration with Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters, will therefore be crucial. The team must turn the information gathered on track into a more effective configuration, particularly in the areas where Hamilton has struggled to feel comfortable with the car’s response.
There is no guarantee that both SF-26 cars will eventually converge towards identical setups. Ferrari’s priority is to understand which adjustments will allow each driver to exploit the car’s potential consistently, rather than simply copying the configuration that has already worked well for Charles Leclerc.
FP3 will provide the first indication of Ferrari’s setup progress
Saturday’s final practice session will offer the first meaningful indication of whether Ferrari’s overnight analysis has helped Lewis Hamilton find a more suitable balance. The expectation is that the British driver will feel more comfortable with the SF-26 and approach the demanding characteristics of a circuit he has always appreciated with greater confidence.
Charles Leclerc’s performance suggests Ferrari has genuine potential at the Circuit of the Americas, but translating that speed across both cars remains an important objective. The difference between the drivers’ Friday experiences demonstrates how sensitive the updated SF-26 can be to setup choices and the time available to understand them.
For Lewis Hamilton and his engineers, the immediate challenge is clear: identify the adjustments that will make the car more predictable over Austin’s bumps, improve his confidence and allow him to extract its performance consistently.
Ferrari has already seen what its updated car can achieve in Charles Leclerc’s hands. The next step is to find a configuration that allows Lewis Hamilton to move closer to that level as the United States Grand Prix weekend progresses.
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