Rivals notice Ferrari’s key strength during F1 Chinese GP weekend. Ferrari attracts attention in the Chinese GP paddock as rivals highlight the SF-26’s strong cornering performance.

All eyes on Ferrari after Chinese GP qualifying

Qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix offered a fairly clear technical picture at the front of the grid. The front row was locked out by Mercedes, with young Italian talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli securing the first pole position of his Formula 1 career ahead of teammate George Russell.

Just behind them, however, were the two Ferrari cars, with Lewis Hamilton qualifying third and Charles Leclerc fourth. The third row was occupied by the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

It was Lando Norris who highlighted an interesting technical detail while analyzing the session after qualifying, especially when comparing McLaren’s performance with that of Ferrari.

Norris points out Ferrari’s cornering strength

“We have a better engine compared to Ferrari and that’s our advantage right now. We simply have more straight-line speed,” Norris explained.

However, the British driver also acknowledged that Ferrari’s SF-26 shows very clear strengths in other parts of the circuit.

“On the other hand, they have a car that goes through some corners even faster than the Mercedes. Keeping up with them through the corners and then trying to pass them on the straights is difficult.”

Ferrari’s characteristics confirmed in Shanghai

The behavior of the Ferrari at the Shanghai International Circuit confirmed several characteristics already observed earlier in the season, particularly during the opening round in Melbourne. The Prancing Horse’s car appears especially effective through sequences of corners and in the more technical sections of the track.

In those areas, aerodynamic downforce and chassis stability allow the drivers to maintain very high cornering speeds. This trait enables Ferrari to remain competitive even against cars that may enjoy a higher top speed advantage on the straights.

Tyre management becomes a crucial factor

According to Norris, Ferrari’s strengths also have a direct impact on tyre management during longer runs.

“They have better tyre management, they have more grip, and that makes it much easier to preserve the tyres in that way,” Lando Norris said.

In other words, while McLaren and other Mercedes-powered teams can rely on superior straight-line speed, Ferrari appears to build its competitiveness on mechanical grip, cornering stability, and efficient tyre management.

This combination could prove decisive particularly in race conditions, where tyre degradation and sustained pace over long stints often play a crucial role in determining the final outcome.