Ralf Schumacher: Ferrari unlikely to catch Mercedes even after major Miami upgrade

Ferrari’s ambitious “package and a half” chassis upgrade for the Miami Grand Prix won’t be enough to close the power‑unit gap to Mercedes, former driver Ralf Schumacher warned. With Mercedes leading the constructors by 45 points and Ferrari stuck on a string of podium‑only finishes, the fight for second place looks set to become a McLaren‑Ferrari duel.

Why it matters:

• Mercedes’ engine dominance widens the points gap, making a title win unlikely for any team without a power‑unit leap.
• Ferrari’s chassis upgrade and the ADUO programme may close the gap to McLaren for second, but catching Mercedes now looks impossible.

The details:

• Mercedes’ W17 power unit has won all three races (Australia, China, Japan) and the Chinese sprint, giving the team a 135‑point lead.
• Ferrari’s SF‑26 has only secured three third‑place finishes, leaving the Scuderia 45 points behind Mercedes in the constructors’ championship.
• Fred Vasseur calls the Miami upgrade a “package and a half,” but the engine gap remains the biggest hurdle; Ralf Schumacher says the fight now is Ferrari vs. McLaren for second.

What's next:

• Miami will be the first race where ADUO credits could be applied, potentially giving Ferrari extra development leeway.
• If Vasseur’s chassis upgrades improve handling, Ferrari may close the gap to McLaren but still lag behind Mercedes’s power unit.
• The upcoming rounds in Spain, Canada and Austria will test whether Ferrari can convert chassis gains into points and stay in the battle for second place.