Why Ferrari SF-26 struggled with degradation in Chinese GP | F1 tyre management analysis. Ferrari faced significant tyre degradation issues at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix offered a clear picture of the current competitive order in Formula 1, with Ferrari struggling to keep up with Mercedes—particularly when it came to tyre management. Data from the race highlights a significant contrast in how the two teams handled degradation across both stints, ultimately shaping the outcome for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

Ferrari vs Mercedes: a race defined by tyre wear

During the opening stint on medium tyres, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli maintained remarkably stable lap times. Their pace remained consistent throughout the run, showing minimal signs of degradation. In contrast, Ferrari began to suffer relatively early, with both the Monegasque and the Briton experiencing a gradual increase in lap times as tyre wear set in.

This early drop-off immediately placed Ferrari on the back foot. While the Scuderia could still remain within striking distance in the first phase of the race, the underlying trend suggested that maintaining performance over a full stint would be a major challenge.

Second stint reveals the true gap

The situation became even more evident in the second stint on hard tyres. Mercedes initially continued with a controlled and consistent pace, carefully managing tyre life. However, what stood out was their ability to increase performance later in the stint, improving lap times by nearly one second per lap despite running on older tyres.

This phase of the race proved decisive. At certain points, Mercedes gained as much as 0.9 seconds per lap over Ferrari, with Russell and Antonelli dipping into the sub-1:36 range. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s pace remained inconsistent, with visible fluctuations and no clear improvement trend as fuel loads decreased.

Why Ferrari struggled with degradation

Several factors appear to have contributed to Ferrari’s higher tyre wear during the Chinese Grand Prix. One of the most significant elements was the on-track battle between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, which likely accelerated degradation as both drivers pushed harder while fighting for position.

In addition, Ferrari may have been forced to extract more performance in cornering phases to compensate for a relative power unit deficit. This would naturally place more stress on the tyres, particularly over long runs.

There are also indications that the car’s aerodynamic configuration could have played a role. Running lower downforce—potentially to offset power limitations—can increase sliding and tyre stress, further contributing to wear. Combined with possible setup characteristics that are inherently more aggressive on tyres, this created a difficult scenario for Ferrari to manage.

Mercedes execution highlights performance gap

Another important aspect to consider is the fuel effect in modern Formula 1. Cars now start races with approximately 70 kg of fuel, compared to around 100 kg in previous years. This reduces the lap time difference between a full and empty tank to roughly two seconds, rather than three.

Despite this smaller natural gain, Mercedes still managed to significantly improve their lap times over the course of the stint. This underlines just how effective their tyre management was, as they were able to unlock additional performance even as degradation would normally be expected to increase.

Ferrari second best, but not enough

By the end of the race, the conclusion was clear: Ferrari simply did not have the tools to challenge Mercedes in China. While Leclerc and Hamilton remain a strong driver pairing and the SF-26 shows flashes of competitiveness, tyre wear proved to be a decisive weakness.

The overall picture resembles a familiar scenario from past seasons, where another team set the benchmark and Ferrari followed as the closest challenger—yet still lacking the consistency needed to fight for victory on equal terms.

If Ferrari are to close the gap in upcoming races, improving tyre management will be crucial. Without addressing this limitation, even strong qualifying performances or aggressive race strategies may not be enough to overcome a Mercedes team that currently excels in long-run pace and consistency.