Lewis Hamilton has urged Ferrari to increase its competitive pressure on Mercedes in the ongoing 2026 Formula 1 season. The seven-time World Champion’s comments follow a period of strong performance from both his current team and former outfit, McLaren. Ferrari currently holds second position in the Constructors’ Championship.
Mercedes began the 2026 season with significant momentum. However, McLaren has recently shown a surge in form. Lando Norris secured victories in the last two races, spanning either side of the summer break.
Ferrari has focused heavily on developing its SF-26 chassis throughout the first half of the season. The team has introduced upgrades at nearly every Grand Prix.
Ahead of the recent Dutch Grand Prix, Hamilton expressed pride in Ferrari’s improvements. He described the team as ‘innovators’ for their consistent introduction of new components.
For the Dutch Grand Prix, Ferrari implemented a comprehensively revised floor for the SF-26. This included tweaks to the floor body, board, and edge.
The upgrades aimed to enhance the robustness of underlying flow mechanisms. They also sought to direct greater flow energy towards the rear diffuser.
Furthermore, the diffuser’s expansion and geometry were optimised to increase aerodynamic load. A minor adjustment was also made to the lower beam wing.
Hamilton acknowledged the team’s progress but stressed the need for further steps. He indicated that more effort is required to consistently outperform Mercedes.
‘We’re in a much different place than we have been in the past, obviously in the last year,’ Hamilton stated. ‘We’re still second in the Constructors’ Championship. We’ve got a lot of positives to take from this first half, but the next ones, we really need to turn up the heat if we’re going to have any chance of beating these guys.’
Charles Leclerc, Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate, also praised the team’s aggressive upgrade strategy. He noted that this approach will continue into the second half of the season.
Leclerc highlighted the team’s innovation in finding solutions within the regulations. He also commended the production department for delivering parts promptly.
The Monegasque driver confirmed a clear, aggressive development program for the SF-26. This plan targets improvements in engine power, chassis, and aerodynamics.
In the Drivers’ Standings after the Dutch Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton dropped to third. He is level on points with George Russell, who sits second due to more race victories in 2026.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the championship for Mercedes with 242 points and seven wins. Russell has 183 points with two victories.
Hamilton also has 183 points but only one win, secured at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. Charles Leclerc is fifth with 155 points and one win at Silverstone.
Mercedes leads the Constructors’ Championship with 425 points. Ferrari is second with 338 points, an 87-point deficit.
McLaren occupies third place with 263 points. Red Bull Racing is currently fourth with 186 points.
Mercedes’ W17 car, designed under the radically changed 2026 regulations, features a new hybrid power unit. It also incorporates active aerodynamics with movable front and rear wings.
Despite Mercedes’ strong start, their momentum has slowed. They have secured only two wins from the six races following their initial dominance.
Team Principal Toto Wolff acknowledged that Mercedes faces budget constraints. This impacts their ability to match the upgrade pace of rival teams.
McLaren’s Lando Norris secured back-to-back victories at the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix. This has propelled him to fourth in the Drivers’ Standings with 159 points.
For the Dutch Grand Prix, McLaren introduced a new rear wing assembly and revised central bodywork. These were designed to enhance aerodynamic performance.
The team also brought a new rear brake duct to Zandvoort. This aimed to improve both aerodynamic and brake cooling performance.
Ferrari now heads to its home race, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, next weekend. The event is scheduled from September 4-6, 2026.
Charles Leclerc’s 2024 victory at Monza marked Ferrari’s first win at the Italian Grand Prix since his previous triumph in 2019.
