Norris: Ferrari have been title contenders since Round 1

Lando Norris has dismissed the notion that Ferrari are latecomers to the 2026 title fight, insisting the Scuderia has been a genuine contender since the season opener despite only securing its first win at round seven in Barcelona. The McLaren driver argues the Italian team's deficit to early pace-setters Mercedes comes mainly from power unit weaknesses on the straights rather than fundamental chassis flaws, adding that a new engine introduced this weekend could make Ferrari the immediate favourites.

Why it matters:

Norris's assessment reframes Ferrari's season not as a sudden surge, but as a frontrunner held back by straight-line speed deficits. If his analysis is accurate, the championship is already a three-way contest rather than a Mercedes-McLaren duel, and a successful power unit upgrade in Barcelona could vault the Italian squad to the head of the field.

The details:

• Speaking in Barcelona, Norris told media that Ferrari "were already title contenders" from the start of the year and that their progress since has been marginal rather than transformative.
• He identified the SF-26's time loss on the straights as its critical weakness, estimating roughly half the deficit stems from the power unit with the remainder caused by aerodynamic drag.
• While Ferrari introduced a significant car upgrade in Spain that contributed to Hamilton's maiden win for the team, Norris maintains the package was competitive well before the new parts arrived.
• A revised power unit debuting this weekend is aimed at curing the straight-line deficit. Norris noted that because the chassis already excels in corners, a stronger engine could allow Ferrari to "easily become the favourites."

What's next:

The real scale of Ferrari's threat will become clear once the upgraded power unit runs in anger. Should the new engine deliver the expected straight-line gains without reliability concerns, Mercedes' early championship cushion could face a swift challenge. With Hamilton finding his rhythm and the fundamentally quick car finally getting the horsepower it needs, Ferrari may be ready to convert its season-long potential into genuine winning pressure.