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Ferrari Faces Early Pace Concerns as Lewis Hamilton Demands Key Improvements
Lewis Hamilton has called on Scuderia Ferrari to address a major weakness in their car following the opening round of the 2026 Formula One season, urging the team to improve their straight-line speed to better compete with rivals.
The season kicked off at the Australian Grand Prix, where Mercedes delivered a dominant performance. George Russell secured victory, leading home teammate Kimi Antonelli in an impressive one-two finish that immediately established Mercedes as the team to beat.
Despite not matching Mercedes’ pace, Ferrari showed promising signs. Charles Leclerc claimed a podium finish, while Hamilton followed closely behind, finishing just a second off his teammate after a competitive race. However, Hamilton is still chasing his first podium with Ferrari since joining the team ahead of the 2025 season.
While the result demonstrated Ferrari’s ability to fight near the front, Hamilton believes there are still critical areas needing improvement. He pointed out that Ferrari is currently losing valuable time on the straights, a disadvantage that could be costing them race wins against faster rivals like Mercedes.
Speaking after the race, Hamilton stressed the importance of continuous development, emphasizing that upgrades and technical progress will be essential throughout the season. He acknowledged the hard work already being done by Ferrari’s engineers to improve overall performance.
The seven-time world champion remains encouraged by the car’s strengths, particularly its performance through corners, where Ferrari appears capable of matching Mercedes. This suggests that the car’s balance and handling are already competitive.
However, the gap in straight-line speed remains a concern. Hamilton indicated that understanding exactly where time is being lost will be key, with data analysis expected to guide the team’s development direction moving forward.
Despite the early deficit, Hamilton remains confident in Ferrari’s potential. He praised the team’s determination and believes that if they can improve their straight-line performance while maintaining their strong cornering ability, they will become serious contenders for race wins.
With only one race completed, the season is still wide open. Ferrari will now focus on upcoming races, aiming to introduce upgrades that could help close the gap and bring them closer to challenging Mercedes at the front.
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