Ferrari acknowledges straight‑line deficit on SF‑26 after Hamilton flags Mercedes’ huge advantage

Ferrari’s SF‑26 has earned podiums in its opening three races, yet team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed a straight‑line performance deficit – a shortfall Lewis Hamilton highlighted after Mercedes took a huge step on the straights at Shanghai. The issue will be tested at high‑speed Monza, where the Scuderia has a private filming day to fine‑tune the power unit and capture sponsor footage.

Why it matters:

• Straight‑line speed is vital for overtaking and defending under the 2026 energy‑limit regime.
• Without matching Mercedes, Ferrari risks losing podiums on long‑straight tracks despite strong qualifying pace, and the deficit could jeopardise its ADUO eligibility.

The details:

• Hamilton said Mercedes now enjoys a huge step on the straights, with more power deployment and less derating than Ferrari.
• Vasseur concurred, confirming the SF‑26’s straight‑line deficit that the team must work on.
• Ferrari’s over‑take mode adds 0.5 MJ when within a second of the car ahead, but the boost drops once the driver falls out of range.
• The Monza filming day, Ferrari’s first of two 2026 sessions, will fine‑tune the engine map and generate high‑speed footage for sponsors.

What's next:

• Ferrari will run a private test at Monza on April 22, focusing on power‑unit mapping and aerodynamic tweaks.
• The FIA will announce ADUO qualifiers after the Miami Grand Prix, potentially giving Ferrari extra development time before the next high‑speed rounds at Silverstone and Monza.