What the Ferrari driver said
The slingshot start and the ability to bring the hard tires up to temperature more quickly allowed the Ferrari cars to attack the Mercedes twice in the Chinese GP, but at the checkered flag, the gap of the SF-26 compared to the W17 is still heavy.
Read more FIA backtracks: no changes until Miami, China ‘validated’ the 2026 rules
Lewis Hamilton finished 25 seconds behind Antonelli’s Mercedes, Charles Leclerc 28. In two weeks, Japan will complete the trio of inaugural races in March, then in April the engines will remain off due to the geopolitical situation characterizing the Middle East.
Read more Ferrari inaugurates a Diagnostic Center in Maranello
Hostilities will resume in Miami where Ferrari will bring many updates and it is on those that Hamilton relies to further relaunch the challenge to the Mercedes: “Compared to Mercedes we lack power – Hamilton told Sky – I think they started developing a bit earlier than us, but I think we have a good engine. Simply on the straights they overtake us and it seems like they are flying and we can’t do anything to stop them. In the corners we go as fast as they do. We will work on the engine and efficiency to try to catch and beat them.”
