Lewis Hamilton has warned Ferrari’s rivals that the Scuderia can have a stronger second half of the 2026 season, because the Italian crew eye an aggressive improve timeline that may characteristic updates to their energy unit.
Ferrari are deemed to be one of many strongest outfits with regards to cornering below the brand new 2026 laws, however an absence of straight line velocity in comparison with Constructors leaders Mercedes has been what has stored them from persistently difficult for wins.
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The Scuderia sit P2 within the standings on the season’s midway level, trailing the Silver Arrows by 72 factors following a considerably anticlimactic P4 and P5 end for Charles Leclerc and Hamilton, respectively on the Hungaroring final day out. Nonetheless, the duo have every picked up a win within the first half of the season, with Leclerc’s Silverstone victory coming two rounds after a maiden Ferrari victory fora rejuvenated Hamilton.
Reflecting on the season to this point, Hamilton informed GPblog and others: “It has been an incredible first half, given we have been in all probability three or 4 tenths down on the straights based mostly on energy for the primary half of the season. I do know the blokes are pushing exhausting to deliver upgrades for that.
Citing Ferrari’s aggressive improve technique to this point, Hamilton anticipates an excellent stronger second half of the season, not just for the crew, however his personal private performances. He added: “We have been bringing upgrades weekend in, weekend out.
“We have got hopefully extra to come back within the second half and we simply carry on pushing. I believe the second half will probably be stronger. Often the second half is a stronger interval for me. So I am going to actually take this time to reset and attempt to come again stronger, fitter and higher mentally ready.”
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Vasseur: We now have to maintain this tempo
Picture: Race Footage
Hamilton’s Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur shares comparable hopes that the crew can “maintain the tempo” within the second half of 2026 by way of upgrades. In his assessment of the season to this point, Vasseur break up the primary half of the yr into two phases, pre and post-Barcelona. Within the 5 races since Hamilton’s win in Spain, the Scuderia have scored extra factors than anybody.
Vasseur informed media, together with GPblog: “The primary a part of the season was, I’d say, in all probability in two phases. The primary one is till Spain when Mercedes was flying, the place they scored one thing like 100 factors greater than us in 4 or 5 occasions. In fact, after Spain, we got here again, we scored extra factors than Mercedes in these 4 or 5 races.
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“The place now we have to enhance is that, if I draw a conclusion based mostly on [Hungary], I’d say execution, however execution to this point was in all probability a great one for us from the start of the season.
“We all know that now we have to enhance on the engine facet. We’ll do it, even when the inertia on the engine is far larger than the chassis. Crucial factor could be to have the ability to maintain the tempo into the event.”
In Budapest, for the primary time this season, it was neither a Mercedes nor Ferrari driver on the highest step, as world champion Lando Norris secured McLaren’s first win. The papaya crew introduced a major improve bundle to the Hungaroring, and whereas many tip this to be a turning level for the reigning Constructors champions, Vasseur insisted Ferrari will proceed to undertake an aggressive improve “philosophy” as soon as F1 returns in late August.
He added: “McLaren did an enormous step ahead, however they do not have precisely the identical philosophy, as a result of they’re bringing an enormous bundle. I believe the final one was Miami or Canada. For certain, every time that they’re bringing one thing, they’re making an enormous step.
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“However now we have a distinct strategy, making an attempt to deliver components each race. And now we have to maintain this momentum, as a result of there are nonetheless 12 races to go – I do not know if it is 11, 12 or 10, however it’s rather a lot. And now we have room for enchancment on the chassis all over the place, and now we have to maintain this tempo.”
