Ferrari think they can build an "equal" engine to Mercedes within just three races

Following a challenging 2025 campaign, Ferrari has emerged as a formidable contender in the early stages of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Currently sitting second in the Constructors' Championship, the Scuderia has seen both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton secure podium finishes. As the sport navigates a five-week break, the team is intensifying its efforts to bridge the performance gap to championship leaders, Mercedes.

Accelerating the development timeline

Strategic personnel and technical focus

To bolster their technical capabilities, Ferrari has appointed Maxime Martinez as Power Unit Performance Engineer. Martinez, who joins the team from Mercedes HPP, will focus on the management of the power unit’s control system. This strategic hire underscores the team's commitment to closing the performance deficit through both hardware and software optimization.

Vasseur’s outlook: a "different championship" ahead

Reflecting on the season thus far, Team Principal Fred Vasseur expressed a measured perspective on the team's progress. While acknowledging the current performance gap, he remains optimistic about the potential for a shift in momentum.

“Am I satisfied with this start to the season? Yes and no. No, because our goal is to finish on the podium, but also to win races. This means we have a performance deficit compared to Mercedes, and that’s clear,” Vasseur told Sky Sports Italy following the Japanese Grand Prix.

“This means we need to do a better job, but, overall, we’re not far off, and we know that Miami could be a different championship,” he added. “We need to continue to score a lot of points, finish on the podium, and not be far behind Mercedes. We’ll need to be close in the championship. The rate of development in the world championship will be very high, which is why we’ll need to keep pushing so hard in the coming months to accumulate points and results.”

As the development race intensifies, the upcoming upgrades could prove pivotal in determining whether Hamilton and Leclerc can consistently challenge George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for race victories. For now, the focus remains on maximizing results and maintaining proximity to the front of the field.