Ferrari Drivers Anticipate Significant Power Unit Challenges at Silverstone and Spa

Scuderia FerrariTeam·Scuderia Ferrari is preparing for what its drivers anticipate will be two of the most challenging weekends of the Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 season at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. Both Lewis HamiltonPlayer·Lewis Hamilton and Charles LeclercPlayer·Charles Leclerc have voiced apprehension regarding the team's power unit performance and energy management, which they believe will be severely tested by the unique configurations of these iconic tracks.

Lewis HamiltonPlayer·Lewis Hamilton, who secured a victory for Ferrari earlier in the 2025/26 season at the Circuit de Barcelona-CatalunyaVenue·Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, acknowledged the team's progress but remained cautious about the immediate future. Speaking on Thursday at Silverstone, the seven-time world champion highlighted a persistent deficit.

"We've had some great performances before. The fact is, as you could see in the race, we lose a lot of time. I think it's about four tenths that we lose on the straights. It's hard to make that up in the corners," Lewis Hamilton stated. "I believe we have a great car fundamentally; we just need to keep working to get the most out of it, to score as many points as possible until we can close that deficit."

Hamilton elaborated that the advantage held by rivals, particularly MercedesTeam·Mercedes, extends beyond sheer power to superior energy management. This aspect is expected to become a critical factor at Silverstone and Spa, more so than in recent races.

"It's not that I'm not confident," the Briton shared. "The fact is, we have long straights. I think this will be the most unprecedented weekend in terms of power deployment. All of us drivers have been talking in the drivers' chat about how weak the power will be on this track. Our battery runs out. There are only a few corners to charge the engine, so the MGU-K will be off for much of the lap, and that's probably where we'll struggle the most. The deficit could be twice as big."

Charles LeclercPlayer·Charles Leclerc echoed his teammate's assessment. The Monegasque driver admitted to a lack of race pace at the recent Austrian Grand Prix and, despite lessons learned, anticipates even greater challenges ahead.

"It's true that in Austria it wasn't difficult until Sunday. But on Sunday, I definitely struggled. I think we identified a few things that played a big role in the lack of performance on Sunday," Charles Leclerc explained. "We will change that, but it's fair to say that the next two races will be, I think, very tough for the team. But the best I can do is keep my head down and keep pushing, no matter where we are fighting."

Hamilton acknowledged the formidable competition, particularly from his former team. "MercedesTeam·Mercedes is a phenomenal team. You see them performing at such an incredible level, and it's truly beautiful to see when a team is in full synergy," he remarked. "What they have brought and done this year is powerful, and I think it will take a huge effort for anyone to catch them."

He also pointed to Red BullTeam·Red Bull's recent advancements. "You've seen now that Red BullTeam·Red Bull has also truly made a step forward. They made a huge step in the last race. So, without a doubt, I assume Max will be a big contender for the title, and he also has the power to match MercedesTeam·Mercedes. So I expect them to be really strong."

As of July 2026, the World Drivers' Championship sees Kimi AntonelliPlayer·Kimi Antonelli of MercedesTeam·Mercedes leading with 171 points, followed by his teammate George RussellPlayer·George Russell with 131 points. Lewis HamiltonPlayer·Lewis Hamilton currently holds third position with 125 points. MercedesTeam·Mercedes also leads the World Constructors' Championship.

Hamilton's message to Ferrari is to maximize every opportunity during these challenging weekends and to capitalize on circuits that better suit the SF-26, such as the HungaroringVenue·Hungaroring. "We just have to extract everything we can from every weekend, and even, if possible, a little more than might be possible from a performance perspective," Hamilton concluded. "And then there will be some tracks where things neutralize a bit. I suppose Budapest could be a bit more of a contested battle because there are no long straights. We need more tracks like that, honestly. But yes, I think it's also too early. Kimi is far ahead. That's still a lot of points lead, and he scored more points in the last race. That's why I said this is a good reality check for us, but nothing is over until it's truly over. Every single person is extremely motivated and giving their all, so that's all I can ask for."