Charles Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone has naturally reignited optimism among Ferrari supporters. However, a single race is not enough to determine whether the SF-26 has genuinely returned to the front of the Formula 1 field or whether the result was largely influenced by the unique characteristics of the British circuit.
For that reason, we decided to take a different approach instead of offering the usual post-race review. By examining the data collected over the past few weeks, we can begin to build a clearer technical picture of Ferrari’s progress and assess where the Maranello team truly stands.
Three races, three different circuits: what have they revealed about Ferrari?
Comparing Barcelona, Austria and Silverstone provides the perfect opportunity to evaluate Ferrari across three very different types of circuits.
In Spain, the SF-26 already showed clear signs of improvement, suggesting that Ferrari’s latest developments were beginning to pay off. Austria, on the other hand, exposed several weaknesses that raised doubts about the Scuderia’s ability to remain a genuine title contender. Silverstone completely changed the narrative. Ferrari returned to winning ways with a car that looked significantly stronger in tyre management while also displaying a much better overall balance throughout the race weekend.
The obvious question now is:
Was Austria simply an exception, or has Silverstone marked the beginning of a new chapter for Ferrari’s 2026 campaign?
The SF-26 is becoming increasingly convincing
We take an in-depth look at the technical factors that appear to have helped Ferrari significantly reduce the gap to Mercedes.
The discussion covers several key areas, including:
- the aerodynamic evolution of the SF-26;
- power unit energy management;
- new setup compromises;
- high-speed corner efficiency;
- deployment of electrical energy throughout the lap.
The overall impression is that the upgrades introduced over the past few races are finally delivering the improvements Ferrari had been expecting.
Mercedes remains the benchmark
Ferrari’s progress is undeniable, yet Mercedes continues to set the technical benchmark in this year’s championship.
The Brackley-based team still possesses an exceptionally efficient package and, perhaps even more importantly, has introduced fewer upgrades than Ferrari throughout the season.
That suggests Mercedes may still have considerable development potential available, meaning the battle between the two teams is far from over.
Spa will provide the real test
The next round of the Formula 1 World Championship takes place at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit, one of the most demanding venues on the calendar.
The Belgian track will put every aspect of the SF-26 to the test, including:
- aerodynamic efficiency;
- energy management;
- top speed;
- overall car balance;
- performance through high-speed corners like Eau Rouge and Raidillon.
For that reason, Spa will likely provide the first definitive indication of whether Ferrari’s recent improvements are sustainable or whether Silverstone was simply a circuit that suited the SF-26 particularly well.
McLaren and Red Bull: the biggest disappointments
The latest episode also examines the surprisingly sharp decline in competitiveness shown by both McLaren and Red Bull.
After beginning the season among the favourites, both teams now appear to have been affected more heavily by the recent regulatory changes. At least over the last few races, they have looked less competitive than both Mercedes and Ferrari.
If that trend continues, the competitive order at the front of the championship could change dramatically over the coming rounds.
The verdict on Ferrari
After three Grands Prix held on very different types of circuits, it is finally possible to begin forming a clearer assessment of the true performance level of the Ferrari SF-26.
Silverstone undoubtedly represents an extremely encouraging sign for the Scuderia. Nevertheless, it will be Spa that determines whether Ferrari can establish itself as a consistent challenger to Mercedes for the remainder of the season.
The first answers will arrive at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix.
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