Maurizio Arrivabene believes Ferrari are firmly in contention for the 2026 Formula 1 title, despite Andrea Kimi Antonelli extending his championship advantage with victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. The former Ferrari team principal also offered a provocative theory about how Mercedes boss Toto Wolff could approach the developing battle between the two teams.
Antonelli completed an otherwise perfect weekend at Spa-Francorchamps by chasing down and overtaking Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. The timing of a Virtual Safety Car had initially worked against the Mercedes driver, allowing Charles Leclerc to make his pit stop during the neutralisation and move into the lead, but Antonelli recovered the position before the chequered flag.
The result added another dimension to the discussion surrounding Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 title ambitions. Although Mercedes remain ahead, Ferrari have continued to apply pressure through Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Maurizio Arrivabene backs Ferrari’s title challenge
Appearing as a guest on Sky Italia’s Race Anatomy, Maurizio Arrivabene argued that Ferrari have every reason to consider themselves part of the championship fight. He also suggested that Toto Wolff is taking the threat from Maranello far more seriously than his public comments might indicate.
“Ferrari can think about fighting for the title,” Maurizio Arrivabene said. “Mercedes? Knowing Wolff, he is already doing his calculations. I wouldn’t rule out him giving the McLaren engines a little more boost.”
The final part of Maurizio Arrivabene’s statement was presented as his personal theory rather than information about a confirmed Mercedes plan. McLaren uses Mercedes power units, but no evidence of preferential treatment or a deliberate performance increase was cited during his remarks.
The comments nevertheless add further intrigue to a championship in which Mercedes, Ferrari and Mercedes-powered McLaren could all influence the outcome. Power-unit performance and electrical deployment had already become major talking points at Spa following the FIA’s decision to introduce revised energy-management restrictions for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Belgian Grand Prix result reshapes the championship standings
Andrea Kimi Antonelli now leads Lewis Hamilton by 45 points in the Drivers’ Championship. Lewis Hamilton moved ahead of George Russell, whose retirement following contact with his fellow British driver on the opening lap left him 50 points behind his Mercedes team-mate.
Charles Leclerc’s second-place finish and Lewis Hamilton’s fourth position ensured Ferrari continued to score heavily despite missing out on victory. Charles Leclerc had briefly appeared capable of converting the Virtual Safety Car opportunity into a win, but Antonelli’s recovery ultimately restored Mercedes to the top step of the podium.
The Belgian weekend also placed renewed emphasis on car efficiency and power-unit deployment, alongside the aerodynamic developments examined in the technical analysis of the latest Formula 1 upgrades at Spa.
For Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari’s recent competitiveness is enough to establish the Scuderia as a genuine championship threat. His remarks about Toto Wolff and McLaren are certain to generate debate, but the central message was clear: the former Ferrari boss does not believe Maranello should rule itself out of the 2026 title fight.
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