EXCLUSIVE: Inside the problem Ferrari are dealing with.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are each gunning for Ferrari glory (Picture: Getty)
With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on the books, Ferrari boast arguably the strongest driver line-up on the System 1 grid. However that additionally creates a big drawback for the Scuderia to juggle, says one outstanding Sky Sports activities F1 star, particularly given they’ve made a promising begin to the brand new season.
Even earlier than the marketing campaign started, Hamilton sounded much more upbeat about his scenario. This was a seven-time world champion who had endured most likely the roughest 12 months of his whole F1 profession, his dream Ferrari transfer having grow to be a nightmare which left him a mere shell of himself at instances, giving worrying interviews during which he questioned whether or not his workforce may be higher off with out him.
However that was in a automotive during which he had no enter. He made a degree of including as a lot as he may to his workforce’s 2026 improvement and is reaping the rewards, feeling much more at him behind the wheel of the SF-26. And the automotive seems to be to be stronger for Leclerc too, even when it does not appear to go well with his driving model.
Ferrari have stood on the rostrum on the finish of all three Grands Prix held to date in 2026, together with Hamilton’s long-awaited maiden top-three Grand Prix end in crimson. “It is fantastic – a powerful Ferrari is sweet for everybody,” Sky F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham instructed Categorical Sport.
She then added: “The game is a greater place when Ferrari are doing properly. It is the 12 months of the horse so, who is aware of? The Prancing Horse could properly triumph.”
They may do properly to handle that, given the beginning Mercedes have made. Ferrari’s automotive seems to be to be a match for the Mercedes workforce on the chassis and aerodynamics entrance, however their engine is missing. And that has been the difference-maker within the early weeks of the marketing campaign: Ferrari have began races properly, however been unable to keep up the tempo required to maintain up with the Silver Arrows.
Hamilton and Leclerc have been buying and selling podiums thus far, the Monegasque having appeared on them twice thus far and eight factors forward of his British team-mate within the championship in consequence.
However each are already being lower adrift of the Mercedes duo. Kimi Antonelli, the youngest championship chief in F1 historical past aged simply 19, is already 23 factors forward of Leclerc and 31 away from Hamilton. A Grand Prix victory’s-worth of factors is a big benefit to have so early in a season.
The actual fact Leclerc and Hamilton are so sturdy individually, and can wish to be those to ship if Ferrari do handle to get a shot on the title, is the issue that Pinkham believes may hurt the workforce in the long term.
She mentioned: “Do not make me select between Lewis and Charles. If that is the 12 months Ferrari win, each drivers would totally deserve it. It could be wonderful to see Lewis get his eighth world title. However Charles is simply such a stunning human being and really affected person, labored extremely laborious, very modest.
“This can be a man who’s bought all of it, however does not puff up ever. And he is a pleasure to interview. It would be beautiful to see him do properly as properly. It is tough to decide on once they type of deliver various things.
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“However you have additionally bought to contemplate when a driver lineup is that sturdy, they will take factors off one another and finally hurt the workforce’s probabilities of the constructors’ or certainly certainly one of them profitable the championship.
“We noticed Max sneak up and simply miss a fifth world title by two factors [to Lando Norris, who spent the season duelling with team-mate Oscar Piastri]. That is loopy to suppose. His comeback on the finish of final 12 months, I imply, arguably Max’s greatest season in System 1 and he did not win the title. That is wild.”
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