Ferrari Backed to Keep Being 'Thorn' for Mercedes in F1 2026 Second Half

Ferrari has been a constant "thorn" for Mercedes throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season so far, and the Maranello squad is backed to continue that trend into the second half of the campaign. With an upgraded ADUO-assisted engine, the Scuderia hopes to keep the pressure on its title rival.

In the first 11 Grands Prix, Mercedes has been dominant with eight wins. Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings by 50 points, thanks to a strong and reliable package. However, Ferrari has not backed down; Lewis Hamilton's win in Spain and Charles Leclerc's at Silverstone keep the fight alive.

Hamilton, now second in the standings, shows impressive consistency despite trailing his teammate Antonelli by 50 points. The question now is whether Ferrari's B-spec engine can match Mercedes' secondary iteration. According to multiple W Series champion Jamie Chadwick, Ferrari has a real chance.

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"They (Ferrari) are the thorn for Mercedes that are preventing Mercedes from getting away," she told Sky F1. "The reliability of the Mercedes that's holding them back means they have to focus on that, rather than just focusing on pure performance. They have to work out how to make their cars reliable and comparable."

Ferrari's strength on fast-corner circuits could be key when F1 resumes at Zandvoort next week after the summer break. If the engine performance continues to improve, another podium challenge is on the cards, tightening the title race.

With a demanding second half ahead, the battle between these two manufacturers is set to intensify. Can Ferrari maintain the momentum and disrupt Mercedes' dominance? We'll see at Zandvoort.