Charles Leclerc delivered an impressive performance at the Japanese Grand Prix, securing his second podium of the 2026 season and maintaining third place in the Drivers’ Championship, 23 points behind the leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Early season assessment
Suzuka also marked the third consecutive Mercedes power unit double, although in this case, considering engine performance, the podium behind race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli featured McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in second place. This highlights the ongoing battle for competitive balance in the early races.
In the post-race press conference, Charles Leclerc offered his first detailed assessment of Ferrari’s start to the season, acknowledging that the Scuderia’s main weakness lies with the power unit. He explained that no engine upgrades will be available for the Miami Grand Prix, and the team will instead focus on other areas to improve performance.
Charles Leclerc on Ferrari’s focus areas
“There is one clear area we need to improve, and that is definitely the power unit,” Charles Leclerc said. “Obviously, we won’t be bringing any engine upgrades to Miami. Our focus will be on everything else – tire operating windows, aerodynamics, and the chassis. We will work at full speed to try to reduce the gap to Mercedes as much as possible, while also keeping McLaren behind us. At the moment, the power unit is our main weakness, but there are many other aspects that can certainly help us reduce the deficit in the meantime.”
Charles Leclerc’s comments underline Ferrari’s strategic approach for the next stage of the season: optimizing the SF-26’s chassis, aerodynamics, and tire management to maximize performance despite the engine limitations, aiming to remain competitive with both Mercedes and McLaren as the championship progresses.
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