Leclerc: Ferrari Upgrades 'Are Working' But All 'Must Be Perfect'

Charles Leclerc is pushing back against criticism of Ferrari's latest upgrade package, insisting the SF-26 updates are working exactly as designed. But Miami made one thing brutally clear: even a working upgrade isn't enough when everyone else is moving faster.

Ferrari arrived in Florida hoping fresh developments would ignite a sluggish season. Instead, the Scuderia fell away from the front during the race, reigniting questions about whether the team has already lost ground in Formula 1's relentless development war.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's ability to close the gap to McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes hinges on winning the development battle. If the SF-26's upgrades are only keeping pace rather than gaining ground, the team risks falling into a familiar pattern – flashes of promise followed by stagnation as rivals surge ahead.

The details:

• Leclerc defended the upgrades outright: "The upgrade package is working. The thing is, others are pushing as well, and probably the upgrade package was a little bit better."
• He confirmed more updates are coming soon, offering a glimmer of hope for Maranello.
• Engine speculation: Sky Sports F1's David Croft floated a theory that Ferrari's small turbo design might hurt race pace as fuel loads drop – offering early-lap aggression but fading over the distance.
• Leclerc dismissed the idea of a recurring race-pace weakness: "I don't think it's a pattern, but let's wait a few more races."
• He emphasized the importance of perfection in development: "It's fine details, but with this generation of cars, especially in the first year, it will all be about the development."

What's next:

Ferrari has more updates in the pipeline. But with McLaren surging, Red Bull relentless, and Mercedes evolving, the margin for error is razor-thin. Leclerc may insist the package works – but in F1, working is never enough when everyone else is finding lap time too.

The true test comes in the next few races: can Ferrari's next wave of upgrades turn fine details into real gains, or will the Scuderia be left watching the championship slip away?