Charles Leclerc is hoping Ferrari can make a bigger performance step than its Formula 1 rivals when the Scuderia introduces an important SF-26 upgrade package at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. The Monegasque believes the coming developments could be crucial after identifying a recent trend in which Ferrari has been losing ground to Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren.
Ferrari came close to victory in Singapore, but another opportunity ultimately slipped away from the Maranello team. The competitive picture at the front has continued to change, with Mercedes having previously left openings for its rivals around the summer break, when McLaren was able to capitalise.
Ferrari prepares important Austin upgrades for the SF-26
The situation has shifted again. Mercedes is currently struggling to find the same direction after the latest upgrade package introduced in Malaysia, while the Max Verstappen-Red Bull combination has returned strongly to the front.
Against that backdrop, Ferrari has significant developments planned for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas. Charles Leclerc hopes the package can unlock an important step for the SF-26, which is currently finding it difficult to establish a clear advantage over its main rivals.
The Austin upgrades have therefore become a particularly important test of Ferrari’s development direction. They also arrive after Charles Leclerc repeatedly raised concerns about Ferrari losing ground during recent race weekends.
Charles Leclerc warns Ferrari has been losing pace to its rivals
Speaking at the press conference, Charles Leclerc stressed that Ferrari could not ignore the trend from the previous three races.
“We cannot forget the trend of the last three races before this one either,” Charles Leclerc explained. “The trend I am referring to is that we are losing a little bit of pace compared to Red Bull, Mercedes and also McLaren. Although perhaps McLaren struggled a little more at Sepang and here.”
The Ferrari driver believes the development race is now particularly important because the order can shift depending on which team succeeds in bringing effective upgrades first. Ferrari’s broader performance against Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren and the rest of the grid can also be followed through the Ferrari vs F1 rivals statistics.
Charles Leclerc hopes Ferrari can make the biggest step in Austin
Charles Leclerc made clear that the objective is not simply for Ferrari to improve the SF-26, but to gain more than its direct competitors when the new components reach the car.
“At the end of the day, what matters is who introduces the upgrades as soon as possible,” Charles Leclerc added. “And hopefully we will be the ones to make a bigger step forward than the others with the next upgrades we introduce.”
Austin will therefore provide an important indication of whether Ferrari can reverse the recent trend identified by Charles Leclerc. With Red Bull returning strongly to the front and Mercedes and McLaren remaining part of the competitive picture, the effectiveness of the next SF-26 package could play an important role in shaping Ferrari’s performance over the remaining rounds.
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