Overview
- Lewis Hamilton has produced three podiums this season, including strong finishes in China, Canada and Monaco, and has risen to second in the drivers’ standings.
- Hamilton credits Ferrari’s improved setup and reliability—notably suspension changes—and the arrival of race engineer Carlo Santi for making the car far more competitive than in 2025.
- Team principal Fred Vasseur’s direct support is portrayed as a turning point because he approved personnel and setup changes Hamilton requested and backed factory work on problems from last year.
- Despite the revival, Hamilton and multiple reports say Mercedes remain the outright benchmark on pace because of higher downforce and power, a gap Ferrari must close on track and in development.
- F1’s ADUO engine process has designated Red Bull’s power unit as the benchmark and opened upgrade slots for rivals including Mercedes, a technical shift that experts say will likely stretch Ferrari’s path to matching top power by several months.