Just a few weeks ago, Ferrari’s resurgence could still have been dismissed as the result of favorable circumstances. However, what unfolded at Silverstone has changed the perception across the entire Formula 1 paddock. The British Grand Prix confirmed that the SF-26 is now capable of performing strongly even at circuits that, on paper, were expected to expose its weaknesses. It is precisely this development that has become Mercedes’ biggest concern.
Heading into the British Grand Prix weekend, Silverstone appeared to be a circuit perfectly suited to the Mercedes W17. Its long high-speed corners and heavy electrical energy demands suggested Ferrari would struggle with power unit management. Instead, the race weekend produced a completely different picture.
The SF-26 demonstrated aerodynamic efficiency that significantly reduced its energy consumption over a lap, effectively compensating for what had been viewed as one of the Maranello car’s main vulnerabilities since the beginning of the season. It was a technical step forward that did not go unnoticed inside the paddock.
Toto Wolff himself acknowledged as much after the race, admitting that Mercedes must first look at its own performance rather than searching for external explanations.
“We have to look at ourselves first of all. We expected Ferrari to struggle with energy management at this circuit, but it simply didn’t happen.”
Silverstone changes the championship narrative
Charles Leclerc’s victory was undoubtedly helped by Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s retirement, with the Mercedes driver forced out by a technical problem while running as the Monegasque’s main rival. However, reducing Ferrari’s success to that single incident would be misleading.
Throughout the entire weekend, Ferrari had already demonstrated its competitiveness. Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint pole position highlighted a level of one-lap pace that very few had anticipated, while in the Grand Prix itself the SF-26 delivered consistently strong race pace, allowing the Scuderia to control the situation.
It was yet another confirmation of the team’s steady progress, built through a continuous development programme that has gradually closed the gap created during the opening phase of the season. Unsurprisingly, that progress has attracted increasing attention from Ferrari’s rivals.
It was no coincidence that after the Austrian Grand Prix, Toto Wolff publicly questioned Ferrari’s ability to introduce upgrades at such a rapid rate. Those comments prompted an immediate response from Fred Vasseur, leading to a respectful but revealing exchange that reflected the growing tension between the two teams.
Spa-Francorchamps will be Mercedes‘ next major test
The championship is now entering a phase where every race weekend carries even greater importance. After nine Grands Prix, Ferrari still trails Mercedes by 78 points in the Constructors’ Championship, but the trend over recent weeks paints a very different picture from what fans witnessed at the beginning of the season.
The next challenge at Spa-Francorchamps will provide another significant benchmark. Like Silverstone, the iconic Belgian circuit places heavy demands on energy management and, at least in theory, should suit the Mercedes package.
For that very reason, the Austrian team principal believes Mercedes must respond immediately.
“Ferrari has been a very strong competitor, and I believe that will continue to be the case for the rest of the season.”
Those words sound like a clear acknowledgment of Ferrari’s transformation. The real change is no longer just about winning races or claiming pole positions. It is about the growing belief—shared even by Ferrari’s rivals—that the Scuderia has fully rejoined the technical battle at the front of the field, making any assumptions based on the competitive order seen at the start of the season increasingly obsolete.
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