Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lewis Hamilton of Scuderia Ferrari has acknowledged that his team faces a significant challenge to match the pace of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team at the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Mercedes has established early dominance with victories in the opening two rounds, underlining the strength of its W17 package across varying race conditions. Ferrari, while competitive in the opening phases of both grands prix, has struggled to sustain performance over full race distances, particularly in tyre management and strategic execution.
Hamilton, now in his second season with Ferrari following his departure from Mercedes in 2025, secured his first podium finish with the Scuderia in Shanghai. However, he admitted that the result does not yet reflect a level capable of consistently challenging his former team.
“To have been such a big part of Mercedes throughout my career, they supported me from day one,” Hamilton said, speaking to media including RacingNews365.
“In 1997, when I was 13, and then to go through that journey with them and achieve what we did, it’s very special.”
Reflecting on Mercedes’ resurgence, Hamilton highlighted the team’s ability to return to the front of the grid after a difficult competitive period, crediting its internal structure and development continuity.
“George and I went through some tough years in that previous era,” he continued.
“So it’s really special to see them back at the front, because it’s a phenomenal team.”
From a competitive standpoint, Hamilton made clear that Ferrari must significantly elevate its performance if it is to challenge Mercedes consistently throughout the season.
“We know we’ve got our work cut out to beat them,” he stated.
“When they are performing like this, they are not easy to beat.”
Hamilton also reflected on the personal dimension of sharing the podium with Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, as well as his long-time race engineer Peter Bonnington, who remains a central figure within the Mercedes organisation.
“To see George come through the ranks and now Kimi as well, especially as he took my seat, it’s quite special,” Hamilton said.
“And Bono, who I worked with for so long, it feels like sitting here with my family.”
Technically, Ferrari has demonstrated underlying pace, particularly in cornering performance during the early stages of stints. However, limitations in maintaining that pace over longer runs indicate areas requiring development, including energy deployment efficiency and aerodynamic consistency.
As the season progresses, Ferrari enters a critical development phase where closing the performance gap to Mercedes will depend on both technical upgrades and operational precision. With the competitive order still evolving, the upcoming rounds will play a decisive role in shaping the trajectory of the 2026 championship.
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