Oscar Piastri believes Ferrari has one of the strongest cars in Formula 1 through the corners, but the McLaren driver has identified a persistent straight-line weakness that is preventing the SF-26 from consistently converting that advantage into results. His assessment comes after a Singapore Grand Prix in which Ferrari appeared well suited to the circuit yet was unable to defeat Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
The Australian explained that Ferrari’s cornering performance has been impressive throughout the 2026 season, often matching or exceeding the pace of its rivals. However, despite expecting Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to establish the benchmark at Marina Bay, McLaren had already seen similar predictions fail to materialise at other circuits.
Oscar Piastri explains Ferrari SF-26 cornering advantage
According to Oscar Piastri, the strength of Ferrari’s package was no surprise in Singapore. The McLaren driver revealed that his team had studied the available performance data and repeatedly identified the SF-26 as either the quickest car or among the fastest through practically every corner during the season.
That consistency led McLaren to anticipate another particularly competitive weekend for the Maranello team. Singapore’s layout appeared to offer an opportunity for Ferrari to exploit its handling characteristics, making the Italian squad a natural reference point before the action began.
However, Piastri acknowledged that this expectation had not always translated into outright superiority. Ferrari had looked capable of setting the pace at several other venues, only for the competitive order to develop differently once the cars were on track.
His assessment followed comments from Isack Hadjar, who had suggested that Max Verstappen would have won the Singapore Grand Prix by an even larger margin had the Dutchman been driving the Ferrari instead of Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton.
The contrast between Ferrari’s speed in the corners and its eventual performance was also evident in the technical analysis of the SF-26’s Singapore Grand Prix, where the team failed to turn its promising underlying pace into victory.
Why Ferrari loses time on the straights despite its cornering speed
When asked to identify the SF-26’s weaknesses, Piastri pointed directly to Ferrari’s straight-line performance. He explained that the car loses time on the straights, although he could not determine whether the underlying cause was aerodynamic drag or a lack of power.
That distinction is important because the two possible explanations concern different aspects of the car. Aerodynamic resistance can affect straight-line efficiency, while power delivery also influences how effectively a Formula 1 car accelerates. Piastri did not claim to know which factor was responsible for the deficit.
Ferrari’s situation therefore presents an unusual contrast. Its ability to carry speed through corners makes the SF-26 a formidable package in certain sections, but that advantage does not automatically compensate for time surrendered elsewhere around the lap.
The problem was particularly relevant at Marina Bay, where the car developed in Maranello was expected to perform strongly. The relationship between Ferrari’s cornering strengths and straight-line limitations in Singapore had already emerged as a significant part of the team’s technical picture.
Red Bull and Ferrari move ahead as McLaren struggles
Beyond Ferrari’s individual characteristics, Piastri also assessed the changing competitive order among Formula 1’s leading teams. McLaren currently occupies third place in the Constructors’ Championship, with Red Bull closing in and Ferrari holding a substantial advantage over the British squad.
The MCL40 has struggled to reproduce the level of competitiveness McLaren demonstrated during the period between the Hungarian and Madrid Grands Prix. Meanwhile, Ferrari and Red Bull have emerged as stronger opponents, particularly following the recent improvement in the RB22’s performance.
Mercedes also encountered difficulties after introducing upgrades in Malaysia. That contributed to Ferrari and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull becoming the principal performance references at the Singapore Grand Prix, although the Dutchman ultimately secured the stronger result.
In Piastri’s judgement, both Ferrari and Red Bull are currently ahead of McLaren. He identified Red Bull as the team that had demonstrated the most consistent speed over recent weeks, while maintaining that the challenges facing the teams can change significantly from one race weekend to another.
The wider competitive picture can be explored through the Ferrari versus F1 rivals statistics, which compare the Italian team’s championship performance, qualifying results and race pace against Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull throughout the season.
What Ferrari’s strengths and weaknesses mean for the final races
Despite McLaren’s recent difficulties, Piastri has not abandoned hope of improving the team’s position during the closing stages of the championship. His confidence is based partly on the belief that different circuits create different challenges, meaning the current hierarchy is not necessarily fixed for every remaining weekend.
For Ferrari, the Australian’s comments underline the contrast that has characterised the SF-26’s season. The car can be exceptionally competitive in the corners, yet its straight-line performance remains a limitation that can prevent Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton from fully exploiting that advantage.
Singapore demonstrated how difficult it can be to convert strong performance in individual sections into an overall result against Red Bull. As the season progresses, the question for Ferrari is whether it can make better use of its established cornering strength while reducing the losses that continue to undermine its competitiveness across a complete lap.
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