'Massively down' – Lewis Hamilton confirms Ferrari's main weakness to Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that the Ferrari SF-26 is "massively down" on power compared to Mercedes in the F1 2026 season. Despite a solid start with four podiums from five races, the Scuderia remains winless since 2024. Mercedes has swept every race so far, with Kimi Antonelli leading the standings.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's power deficit is the key obstacle to challenging Mercedes. Monaco's tight, low-speed layout offers a unique opportunity to neutralize that weakness, potentially delivering Ferrari's first win of the season.

The details:

• Hamilton complained about lack of power in Montreal, finishing over 10 seconds behind Antonelli. He noted that even with overtake mode, Mercedes pulls away on straights.
• The Ferrari driver called the deficit "massively down" and said it's "really hard" to keep up on conventional circuits.
• ADUO opportunity: Ferrari is expected to qualify for the FIA's Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) scheme, designed to help struggling power unit manufacturers catch up. Audi and Honda are also in the first batch.
• Monaco aero ban: The FIA has banned active aero for the Monaco weekend – the first time movable wings won't be used since DRS was introduced. Ferrari's rotating rear wing (used since Miami) will not appear.
• Hamilton emphasized Monaco as "the one track that power is not king" and said the SF-26 could be "really strong" there if they maximize car performance from Practice 1.

What's next:

All eyes are on Monte Carlo. If Ferrari can deliver a win, it would be a huge morale boost. But the long-term fix lies in the ADUO scheme, which could close the gap to Mercedes later in the season.