Ferrari praise Lewis Hamilton start but demand rapid F1 upgrades
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has praised Lewis Hamilton’s strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, while warning the squad still faces a massive development battle to catch Mercedes.
The Maranello outfit ran the reigning champions closest during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Charles Leclerc and his British team-mate finished third and fourth respectively after challenging eventual race winner George Russell in the early stages.
Rapid development key to title hopes
Adapting to the sweeping new 2026 technical regulations remains a formidable challenge up and down the grid.
Vasseur highlighted several key areas where the team must immediately find crucial performance gains:
- Aerodynamic chassis development
- Power unit output and efficiency
- Tyre degradation and management
- Trackside strategy execution
“The result will be based on our capacity to improve quickly.”
Frederic Vasseur
The Scuderia boss believes the ultimate championship outcome will be dictated by which constructor can manufacture and deliver upgrades to the track fastest.
Hamilton settled in second season
The French engineer expressed immense satisfaction with the seven-time world champion, who is now embarking on his second campaign wearing the famous scarlet overalls.
The atmosphere within the Italian camp is notably more optimistic compared to recent challenging campaigns.
Last year, the historic franchise was forced to wait until the fifth round of the calendar just to secure a spot on the podium.
Wolff wary of Maranello threat
Attention now immediately turns to this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, which hosts the first Sprint event of the new era.
Rival team boss Toto Wolff has already acknowledged the looming threat, admitting his Mercedes outfit has a genuine fight on their hands.
“Now I prefer to start the season in a good shape than in a bad shape, but it’s still a long way to go.”
Frederic Vasseur
