Hamilton and Leclerc Dismiss Claims That Ferrari Was Fastest in Singapore

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have firmly rejected claims from Isack Hadjar that Ferrari possessed the fastest car at the Singapore Grand Prix. While Hadjar suggested Max Verstappen would have won by a wider margin had he been driving for the Scuderia, the Ferrari drivers insist such assessments ignore the technical realities and fine margins of the current grid.

Why it matters:

This debate highlights the razor-thin margins separating the top teams in 2026. As the championship battle intensifies, the perception of who holds the "fastest car" often clashes with actual race execution, underscoring how critical operational optimization is over raw theoretical pace.

The Details:

• Hadjar's Argument: The rookie claimed Ferrari held the upper hand in Marina Bay, suggesting that Verstappen's narrow pole position and Ferrari's lack of new soft tires masked the car's true potential.
• Leclerc's Rebuttal: Leclerc dismissed the theory as "nonsense," arguing that outsiders cannot accurately judge the car's handling or the precise package optimization required for a street circuit.
• Hamilton's Perspective: While praising Hadjar's talent, Hamilton credited Red Bull's enduring ability to out-engineer the field, specifically highlighting their superior engine performance and overall package integration.

The Big Picture:

Red Bull continues to set the technical benchmark for the field. Hamilton noted that while Ferrari managed to match Red Bull's cornering speed in Singapore, the Bulls remained significantly faster on the straights. With Ferrari's current upgrades offering only marginal gains—estimated at less than a tenth of a second—closing this deficit remains a steep climb.

What's next:

As the paddock moves to the United States Grand Prix, Ferrari will debut a special blueprint-inspired livery. However, the real focus remains on whether the Scuderia can find a genuine performance leap to challenge Verstappen's dominance in the final stretch of the 2026 season.