F1 Australian GP FP2: Ferrari reduces Lift & Coast, lower cornering speeds than McLaren
During the first official outing of the 2026 F1 season, it quickly became clear how complex managing hybrid energy recovered from the MGU-K generator has become. This capability allows teams to make strategic choices to maximize power output at different points on the track. Today, we can conduct a first analysis, examining Ferrari’s setup and whether its performance in FP2 at Melbourne suffered compared to rivals.
Ferrari manages hybrid energy differently from McLaren
Using telemetry data, we compared flying laps in FP2: on one side the Ferrari SF-26 driven by Lewis Hamilton, and on the other the McLaren MCL40 piloted by Oscar Piastri. The first notable difference appears in mid-corner speeds, which, compared to last year, can no longer be interpreted the same way. These gaps do not simply reflect the cars’ characteristics but rather the way hybrid energy is managed.
On the high-speed section from turn 7 to turn 11, where maximum hybrid support is required to run quickly, the British car has the advantage. In traction, Oscar Piastri pulls ahead, carrying this through to turn 12. Examining the energy output, it is clear that the British car uses more power until turn 8, before aligning with the Ferrari SF-26 for the rest of the lap.
This is because the Australian executes a pronounced Lift & Coast in three specific points of the circuit: turns 1, 3, and 6. This approach spends less energy recharging the battery packs, while maximizing hybrid horsepower during acceleration. The data also shows that Oscar Piastri slightly applies the brake on straights, a technique observed from Charles Leclerc in FP1.
It is believed that this may be a tactic to recharge the battery slightly, though this remains unconfirmed. Another difference is visible through turns 9-10: here, the throttle of car number 44 is higher, although the MCL40’s engine revs are higher to recharge the hybrid system. The same occurs in turns 13-14, where Oscar briefly lifts entirely off the throttle, while Lewis Hamilton continues accelerating without dropping below 60%.
SF-26 shows lower cornering speeds compared to McLaren
Looking at the RPMs as a whole, Ferrari’s are generally higher. Turning to cornering speeds, the SF-26 only achieves a higher apex speed in two turns: turn 3 (+5 km/h) and turn 9 (+2 km/h). Elsewhere, the Ferrari loses time: for example, 13 km/h slower in turn 1 and 9 km/h slower in turn 6. As noted earlier, conditions in 2026 are very different compared to 2025.
These differences must be considered in relation to energy deployment and storage. This initial analysis highlights the difficulty of managing the 475 horsepower generated by the hybrid system, where spreading it effectively can make a major difference. This is in addition to the base efficiency of one hybrid system versus another, and how aggressively each team uses it.
As noted in our onboard analysis of Ferrari during FP1, understanding how to manage this component is essential for performance. It remains to be seen whether telemetry lines will converge tomorrow or if clear differences will persist due to strategic choices. One thing is certain: F1 2026 is significantly more complex than last season.
Additionally, tire activation must be considered, which remains a mystery at this point. Two practice sessions are too few to establish the correct hysteresis cycle. Focused study is still needed for all teams. In this regard, simulators will be invaluable, helping engineers and drivers understand how to optimally manage these two critical elements, which must achieve perfect correlation for maximum performance.
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