Lewis Hamilton remains optimistic about Ferrari’s performance at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, but the seven-time Formula 1 world champion is concerned about the condition of his SF-26 power unit after a technical problem forced him to stop during FP2. Despite experiencing a loss of power, the British driver praised the car’s speed and admitted that he was praying everything would be all right with the engine ahead of qualifying.
Ferrari completed 102 laps across Friday’s two practice sessions at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with Charles Leclerc setting the fastest time in both FP1 and FP2. The SF-26 demonstrated encouraging competitiveness, although the gaps between the leading teams remain extremely small and the evolving track conditions mean the results must be interpreted cautiously.
The main setback came during the second session, when Ferrari instructed Lewis Hamilton to stop his car at the side of the circuit as a precaution. The team planned to investigate the technical problem overnight, with particular attention focused on ensuring the power unit could continue operating without further issues.
Ferrari shows strong Mexico GP pace as Lewis Hamilton suffers FP2 setback
Ferrari used all three Pirelli tyre compounds throughout Friday, combining qualifying simulations with longer runs to evaluate the SF-26’s performance. Both drivers began FP1 on Hard tyres before switching to Softs for their qualifying simulations.
Charles Leclerc recorded a 1:18.128 to lead the opening session, while Lewis Hamilton finished fourth with a 1:18.866. Both Ferrari drivers subsequently completed sequences of consecutive laps, bringing the team’s FP1 total to 54, with 29 laps for the Monegasque and 25 for the Briton.
The second session began with both cars running on Medium tyres, but a red flag interrupted the programme after debris was left on the circuit following contact between Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson.
Once running resumed, Ferrari switched to Soft tyres. Lewis Hamilton completed a lap in 1:18.512 before the technical anomaly forced him to stop after just 13 laps. Charles Leclerc continued his programme, improving first to 1:17.966 and then to 1:17.827 to finish fastest once again.
The Monegasque completed 35 laps in FP2, including race simulations on Medium tyres towards the end of the session. Ferrari’s combined total for the afternoon reached 48 laps, although Lewis Hamilton’s early stoppage prevented him from completing his planned long runs.
The contrasting programmes also leave Ferrari with different amounts of information from its two drivers. Practice performance and stint comparisons can be explored through the F1 practice and long-run analysis.
Charles Leclerc encouraged by Ferrari performance but cautious about slippery track
Despite topping both practice sessions, Charles Leclerc was reluctant to draw firm conclusions about Ferrari’s competitive position. The Monegasque emphasised the difficult conditions at the Mexican circuit and acknowledged that the SF-26 still had limitations to address before qualifying.
“Overall, our performance looks quite good, but we still need to work on some of our limitations. It was quite difficult out on track today because the asphalt was very slippery. We will work tonight to try to improve and find some more performance ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying,” Charles Leclerc explained.
The unusually slippery surface complicated the search for grip and balance, while further track evolution could change the competitive picture. Ferrari’s encouraging Friday performance therefore provides a useful starting point, rather than definitive evidence of its position relative to its rivals.
The Mexican circuit had already been identified as a demanding challenge for the SF-26, with Fred Vasseur highlighting concerns about cooling and grip ahead of the Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton explains lost Ferrari track time and remains confident in SF-26
Lewis Hamilton experienced a considerably more disrupted Friday. His FP1 programme was reduced by aerodynamic comparison tests, while the technical problem in FP2 prevented him from completing the longer runs needed to evaluate the car’s race pace.
“It wasn’t the smoothest of days for me because I lost some time in the first session with the rake tests, and then I had to stop early in the second. Normally, at this circuit, I would have given FP1 to one of the young drivers, as almost everyone else did, but I chose to do the rookie test elsewhere. So, in the end, I effectively had only half a session available,” Lewis Hamilton explained.
Despite losing valuable preparation time, the seven-time world champion was particularly encouraged by the feeling of the SF-26. He believes Ferrari has made meaningful progress with the car’s setup and remains optimistic about its competitiveness.
“I felt really good in the car. It’s just bad luck. I think we did a great job of getting the car into a better place. We’ve been really competitive as a team this weekend. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do the long runs, so I have no idea where we’ll be in terms of race pace, but I know it’s really difficult to overtake here, as we saw today with several cars.”
The lack of race simulations leaves an important question unanswered for Lewis Hamilton, particularly at a circuit where overtaking can be difficult. Securing a strong starting position could therefore prove crucial if Ferrari hopes to convert its promising Friday pace into a competitive race result.
Ferrari’s strong performance also follows encouraging indications from its recent development programme, although the SF-26’s Mexico City challenge following the Austin upgrades involves different technical demands.
Lewis Hamilton worried about Ferrari power unit after reporting power loss
Lewis Hamilton’s most significant concern remains the technical problem that interrupted FP2. Although he does not expect Ferrari to make major setup changes before qualifying, he revealed that the SF-26 had already been losing power during the opening part of his lap.
“From a setup point of view, I don’t think we need to make any major changes for tomorrow’s qualifying. The feeling in the cockpit was good. I was already losing power at the beginning of the lap, and we were still quick. I’ll give everything tomorrow and try to make the most of whatever I have available. They’re still investigating to understand what went wrong. I’m just praying that everything is OK with the power unit and that we can carry on without any problems.”
His comments underline the contrast between Ferrari’s encouraging performance and the uncertainty surrounding the number 44 car. Even with the reported loss of power, Lewis Hamilton felt the SF-26 was competitive, reinforcing his confidence in the setup direction chosen by the team.
However, the precise cause of the technical problem remains unknown. Lewis Hamilton’s concern about the power unit does not establish that the engine itself has suffered damage, and Ferrari must complete its investigation before determining whether any components require attention.
The immediate priority is to ensure the car is ready for qualifying without compromising the performance demonstrated during Friday practice. With Charles Leclerc fastest in both sessions, Ferrari has reason to be encouraged, but Lewis Hamilton’s interrupted programme and unresolved technical concern leave the Scuderia with important work to complete before the decisive stages of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Leave a Reply