Just In: Ferrari Confirms Lewis Hamilton is not P...read more

Just In: Ferrari Confirms Lewis Hamilton is not P…read more

Lewis Hamilton has urged Scuderia Ferrari to focus on improving their straight-line speed after the opening race of the new Formula One season, as the Italian team looks to close the performance gap to rivals Mercedes.

The 2026 F1 campaign began last weekend with the Australian Grand Prix, where Mercedes enjoyed a dream start to the season by securing a dominant one-two finish. George Russell led the charge for the Silver Arrows, taking victory ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli, highlighting the strong early-season pace of the Mercedes package.

Ferrari, however, still managed to produce a competitive showing during the race weekend. Charles Leclerc secured a podium finish for the Scuderia, while Hamilton crossed the line just one second behind his team-mate after a closely fought race. Despite the encouraging result, Hamilton is still waiting to stand on the podium for Ferrari since making his highly anticipated move from Mercedes at the beginning of the 2025 season.

While the opening race showed that Ferrari can challenge near the front of the grid, Hamilton believes there are clear areas where the team needs to improve if they want to regularly battle Mercedes for race wins. According to the seven-time world champion, Ferrari appears to be losing valuable time on the straights compared to their main rivals.

Speaking to reporters after the race, Hamilton emphasized that Ferrari must continue pushing forward with development if they want to close the performance gap.

He explained that constant upgrades and technical improvements will be key as the season progresses, adding that the team’s engineers are already working intensely to enhance the car’s performance.

Hamilton remains optimistic about Ferrari’s overall package, noting that the car feels strong in many areas. In particular, he suggested that Ferrari is capable of matching Mercedes through the corners, which indicates that the car’s handling and balance are already competitive.

However, the British driver believes Mercedes currently has a noticeable advantage when it comes to straight-line speed. That difference, he suggested, may be the key factor preventing Ferrari from fully challenging for victories at this stage of the season.

Hamilton stressed that identifying exactly where time is being lost will be crucial for Ferrari’s development direction. By analyzing race data and performance comparisons, the team hopes to pinpoint the precise areas where improvements can be made.

Despite the challenge ahead, Hamilton expressed confidence in Ferrari’s ability to fight back. He highlighted the team’s strong work ethic and determination to keep developing the car throughout the season.

If Ferrari can unlock more straight-line performance while maintaining their strong cornering ability, Hamilton believes the team will be in a much better position to challenge Mercedes as the championship battle unfolds.

With only the first race completed, there is still a long season ahead in Formula One. Hamilton and Ferrari will now turn their attention to the upcoming rounds, aiming to bring upgrades that could help them reduce the gap and potentially fight for victories in the races to come. 🏎️🔥