Ferrari heads to Austin with renewed confidence after consecutive podium finishes in Malaysia and Singapore, with team principal Fred Vasseur calling for another solid performance and maximum exploitation of the SF-26. The United States Grand Prix also carries important championship implications as Ferrari looks to consolidate second place in the Constructors’ standings.
After a difficult return from the summer break, Ferrari responded with two podiums in succession, first through Lewis Hamilton in Malaysia and then Charles Leclerc in Singapore. The Maranello team now faces the challenge of the 2026 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas, a venue where Ferrari triumphed in 2024 and claimed the most recent of its 87 Formula 1 one-two finishes.
Ferrari targets another strong Austin weekend
Austin features some similarities to Sepang, where Ferrari enjoyed an encouraging weekend. However, the SF-26 was beaten by Red Bull in terms of performance, while Mercedes continues to demonstrate the strength of its package and McLaren is also expected to bring updates to the track.
Ferrari nevertheless arrives in Texas with growing momentum. Charles Leclerc’s second place in Singapore provided another positive indication before the next phase of development, while the Ferrari Austin upgrade package will provide an important opportunity to assess how much further the SF-26 can progress against its main rivals.
Fred Vasseur remains confident ahead of the Austin round, while once again stressing the importance of executing every aspect of the weekend correctly. With Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull fighting at the front, the broader competitive picture can also be followed through the Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics, which tracks the Maranello team’s performance against its main opposition throughout the season.
Fred Vasseur wants Ferrari to maximise the SF-26
“After two encouraging weekends in Asia, where we scored important points, we begin the American part of the season in Austin. The Circuit of the Americas is one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar, with a combination of very different types of corners,” the Ferrari team principal said.
“We have worked hard to consolidate the progress shown in the recent races and our objective for this weekend is to put together another solid performance in every area. We are looking forward to getting on track in front of the American fans with the aim of maximising the potential of the SF-26.”
Ferrari aims to strengthen second place in the championship
Ferrari also arrives in Austin chasing important points to defend second place in the Constructors’ Championship from McLaren and Red Bull. The advantage remains substantial, standing at 105 points over McLaren and 112 over Red Bull, but the objective at Maranello is to settle the battle as soon as possible.
The Texas weekend therefore represents another important test of Ferrari’s recent progress. After recovering from a difficult period with podium finishes for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the team now needs to convert that momentum into another complete weekend as the 2026 Formula 1 season enters its final stages.
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