Hamilton hints Ferrari might „have the best car, but it’s hard to fight with Mercedes” due to PU limitations

Hamilton didn’t conceal his disappointment after ending seventh in each the Dash and the Grand Prix, describing a weekend during which Ferrari’s potential was repeatedly undermined by straight‑line velocity limitations and, on Sunday, by early injury.

“We’ve got the perfect automotive, however it’s onerous to battle with Crimson Bull and Mercedes,” he admitted, summing up the paradox of Ferrari’s present type: a chassis able to matching anybody, paired with an influence unit that leaves the drivers uncovered on each lengthy straight.

The Briton has been more and more vocal concerning the want for Ferrari to speed up its engine growth programme, and in Miami he sharpened that message additional.

“Engine improve? Sure, this actually is what we’d like a lot”

Chatting with Mara Sangiorgio of Sky Italia, Hamilton was specific about the place Ferrari is dropping its fights: “Engine improve? Sure, this actually is what we’d like a lot.

„Now it is very onerous for us to battle in opposition to the ability of the Crimson Bull and Mercedes energy items, which each have a giant benefit over ours,“ the Briton continued.

Ferrari’s deficit — extensively believed within the paddock to be within the area of a number of tenths per lap relying on circuit structure — has change into the defining limitation of the SF‑26.

Hamilton’s feedback mirror what each Ferrari drivers have been hinting at because the season opener: the automotive is balanced, predictable, and aerodynamically environment friendly, however the lack of deployment and peak energy leaves them weak in wheel‑to‑wheel fight.

Regardless of the frustration, Hamilton’s perception within the undertaking stays intact. He repeatedly emphasised that Ferrari’s foundations are sturdy — sturdy sufficient, in his view, to battle for victories as soon as the engine deficit is addressed.

“For the remaining, we now have an amazing automotive, maybe even the perfect, so we now have to resolve this downside as a result of, if we succeed, we might actually be preventing for victories.”

That is the clearest public endorsement but of Ferrari’s 2026 chassis idea from the seven‑time world champion. Internally, the crew has been inspired by the SF‑26’s cornering efficiency and tyre administration, each of which have been aggressive even on circuits the place Ferrari historically struggled.

A injury‑restricted Sunday: “I had nothing”

Hamilton’s race unravelled early when Max Verstappen’s spin pressured him off‑line, leaving him boxed in after which his SF26 suffered main ground injury as a consequence of a contact with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto on the primary lap.

“I felt like we’d have been extra aggressive, so I actually felt optimistic for right this moment. I obtained held up firstly when Max spun and I used to be within the incorrect place for that, after which clearly the injury that I obtained after that then I used to be simply… I had nothing.”

From that second, Hamilton was caught in what he referred to as “no man’s land,” unable to assault and unable to defend: „Clearly not a great weekend in any respect. Seventh and a seventh. Simply in no man’s land on each races, however significantly right this moment with the injury there was nothing I might do.”

Hamilton made a degree of acknowledging the hassle behind Ferrari’s Miami improve bundle — a bundle that delivered positive aspects, however not sufficient to offset the engine shortfall.

“Actually unlucky as a result of the crew labored so onerous, so to return away with just a few factors is… We’ve got to maneuver on from right here.”

The message was clear: the route is correct, the work charge is big, however the lacking horsepower is defining Ferrari’s ceiling.

Hamilton closed the weekend with a sober evaluation of the timeline required to catch Mercedes and Crimson Bull in engine efficiency: „However it’s going to take some extra time to fill this hole and attempt to catch up.”

F1earlier