News Summary
- Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari can win another race before the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season after consecutive second-place finishes in Singapore and the United States.
- The Ferrari driver says improvements in his understanding of the car’s setup, combined with recent upgrades, have made him more comfortable behind the wheel.
- Ferrari’s pace in Austin was compromised in qualifying by difficulties getting the tyres into the right operating window, an issue Leclerc wants the team to investigate further.
Charles Leclerc is confident Ferrari can win another race before the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season after finishing second at the Singapore and United States Grands Prix. The Monegasque driver believes recent progress with the car has put the team in a stronger position, although he acknowledged that converting this performance into a victory will depend partly on how its rivals develop their cars.
Ferrari introduced upgrades to the SF-26 in Austin, where Leclerc secured his second consecutive podium. The team is also expected to bring further developments to the Mexican Grand Prix, as it looks to build on its recent progress in the final rounds of the season.
“Just both together, we’ve taken a step forward, and I just feel much more comfortable with the car,” Leclerc said. He added that he had “unlocked something again in terms of driving, and particularly set-up with my driving” over the previous two or three races.
The improvement has strengthened his belief that Ferrari can challenge for another win. However, Leclerc stressed that the competitive picture could change as rival teams introduce their own updates.
“Whether I can convert that into a win is a bit difficult to predict, because it’s such fine margins, and it also depends on what the upgrade plans of the others are in upcoming races,” he explained.
Ferrari’s qualifying weakness remains a concern
Despite Ferrari’s encouraging pace in Austin, the team failed to carry its practice performance into qualifying. Ferrari topped all three practice sessions, with Lewis Hamilton fastest in the final session, but Leclerc qualified fourth and his teammate fifth.
Leclerc identified tyre preparation as a key factor behind the drop in performance. As track temperatures fell during Q3, Ferrari struggled to bring the tyres into the correct operating window, preventing the drivers from extracting the car’s full potential over a single lap.
The Monegasque said a difference of just one or two degrees in track temperature made a significant impact on his performance. He also noted that Ferrari appears to be more sensitive than its rivals when the tyres fall outside their optimal operating range.
“The tyre window is the same for everybody, but our car, for some reason, it is very difficult to put some heat in those tyres,” Leclerc explained. “It is a good thing for us on Sunday, but in qualifying, it makes it very tricky when the track temperatures go down.”
The issue presents Ferrari with a difficult balance. The car’s ability to keep tyre temperatures under control can be beneficial over a race distance, but generating enough heat for a single qualifying lap remains a challenge. Leclerc said the team needs to understand the problem better and identify possible solutions.
He also pointed out that Ferrari had the potential to challenge for a better grid position in Austin. The team’s inability to reproduce its practice pace in Q3 meant it started behind both Red Bull cars and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who secured pole position.
Leclerc’s Austin podium reinforces Ferrari’s hopes
Although the qualifying result limited Ferrari’s chances, Leclerc recovered to finish second in the United States Grand Prix. He fought with Max Verstappen during the race and eventually secured the runner-up position, while Antonelli remained out of reach at the front.
The result followed Leclerc’s second place in Singapore, giving Ferrari consecutive podium finishes and reinforcing the driver’s belief that the team has made progress.
The challenge now is to turn that improved performance into a victory. Ferrari has already won twice in 2026, including Leclerc’s triumph at the British Grand Prix, but the team must continue developing the SF-26 while addressing the qualifying issues that have cost it opportunities.
With further upgrades expected in Mexico, Ferrari will have another chance to assess its progress. Leclerc remains optimistic, but he knows that a third victory of the season will depend on both the team’s own development and the pace of its competitors.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. What did Charles Leclerc say about Ferrari’s chances of winning again in 2026?
Leclerc believes Ferrari can win another race before the end of the season, following consecutive second-place finishes in Singapore and the United States.
2. Why is Leclerc more confident in Ferrari’s performance?
The Monegasque driver said he has improved his understanding of the car’s driving characteristics and setup. Ferrari’s recent upgrades have also contributed to the progress.
3. What was Ferrari’s main problem in qualifying at the United States Grand Prix?
Ferrari struggled to bring its tyres into the correct operating window as track temperatures fell during Q3. Leclerc said the issue prevented the team from extracting its full potential.
4. How did Charles Leclerc finish the 2026 United States Grand Prix?
Leclerc finished second at Circuit of The Americas, behind Kimi Antonelli, after fighting with Max Verstappen during the race.
5. Is Ferrari expected to introduce more upgrades in 2026?
Further developments were expected for the Mexican Grand Prix, following the upgrades introduced at Austin.
