Toto Wolff has mentioned he expects Ferrari to problem championship leaders Mercedes”for the remainder of the season,” after Charles Leclerc’s first win of 2026 at Silverstone final week. The Silver Arrows have been on the rostrum due to George Russell’s P2, however Kimi Antonelli completed P15 after harm and a five-second penalty.
Coming into the weekend, Ferrari have been initially anticipated to wrestle at Silverstone given the energy-starved nature of the enduring British GP circuit – the Scuderia have noticeably lagged behind opponents on the straights, and since Silverstone lacks apparent alternatives to regain electrical power, a troublesome weekend was anticipated.
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These considerations have been rapidly quelled, nonetheless, after Lewis Hamilton secured Dash Pole to spherical out Friday’s motion – the seven-time world champion misplaced P1 to Kimi Antonelli the next day, however Ferrari one other sturdy efficiency in Qualifying, with Leclerc and Hamilton P2 and P3, respectively.
At race begin, Leclerc impressively received the bounce on Mercedes’ teenage sensation – happening to make the most of the Italian’s harm to his wheel defend, and a Lap 48 crash for Max Verstappen, to safe his first win of the 2026 season.
Wolff: Ferrari will problem for remainder of 2026 season
Picture: Race Photos
Picture: Race Photos
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Russell’s P2 represented harm limitation for Mercedes, who proceed to wrestle with reliability considerations compared with Ferrari – famous by Lewis Hamilton as probably a key benefit for the Scuderia as they attempt to shut the hole on the Silver Arrows.
Wolff maintained, nonetheless, he would a lot somewhat be in Mercedes’ place regardless of the 2 DNFs already suffered at Montreal and Barcelona, however he was cautious of Ferrari’s current uptick in efficiency – the Italian squad have gained two of the final three Grands Prix, with Hamilton securing his maiden Ferrari win in Barcelona two rounds prior.
When requested whether or not he was stunned by Ferrari’s efficiency at Silverstone, Wolff advised media, together with GPblog: “Effectively, we have to have a look at ourselves.
“They mentioned earlier than the weekend that they will be missing power over this monitor. They have not. They have been a robust competitor and that is to be anticipated now for the remainder of the season.”
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Picture: Race Photos
Picture: Race Photos
Ferrari staff principal, and shut buddy of Wolff, Fred Vasseur has nonetheless surrounding a Ferrari title struggle. Regardless of Ferrari securing their first double podium with Leclerc and Hamilton, Vasseur is adamant he’s specializing in a race-by-race foundation.
He advised media, together with GPblog: “After Barcelona, that we had the remark, ah, Ferrari is again within the championship. I mentioned no. The week after, you advised me, ah, Ferrari is nowhere. I mentioned no, that we have been on the primary ground. That I’ll have precisely the identical method with all people at house tomorrow morning, however even when I will not be within the workplace tomorrow, however to say, guys, that we did a great weekend, now let’s be centered on Spa.
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“It’s not that we’re champions, we’re nowhere, we’re enhancing step-by-step, however it’s like it’s that I by no means can draw a conclusion after one race, two races, a great outcome, a foul outcome. I’m simply centered on doing extra and doing higher. And I feel it is true for me, it is true for everyone on the manufacturing facility. Then it is your job to talk about the championship and so, however I by no means did it.”
Vasseur later added his perception that Mercedes are nonetheless “5 instances forward” of the Scuderia, saying: “Yeah, however let’s be centered on Belgium. Let’s do a great race. I feel Mercedes, actually, they nonetheless have a bonus. When you have a glance on the six to seven periods that we did this weekend, they’re in all probability 5 instances forward. But it surely signifies that we had a great race.”
