Norris: Ferrari would 'embarrass' F1 with better engine

Lando Norris has warned that Ferrari would "embarrass" the Formula 1 field if they resolve their engine deficit, following Lewis Hamilton's dominant Spanish Grand Prix win. The Ferrari driver cruised to a near 20-second victory over George Russell in Barcelona, showcasing a chassis Norris called the "class of the field" in corners despite the Scuderia's continued straight-line weakness.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's aerodynamic edge in Barcelona underlined why rivals should be concerned. Mercedes arrived in Spain with a perfect Sunday record in 2026, yet Hamilton's win proved Ferrari's chassis is already capable of triumphing without a top-tier power unit. With two Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) available—potentially debuting as early as the Austrian Grand Prix—the Scuderia could quickly become unstoppable.

The details:

• Hamilton capitalized on a Virtual Safety Car but likely would have won regardless after passing Norris, Russell, and Kimi Antonelli before the Italian retired.
• Ferrari's dominance in long, high-speed corners masks a severe straight-line deficit to Mercedes and Red Bull, which the FIA rates as having the benchmark power unit.
• McLaren's struggles: Reigning champion Norris trails championship leader Antonelli by 83 points after consecutive retirements in Montreal and Monaco. He admitted McLaren were "not in the fight" in Spain despite extracting the maximum from an uncompetitive car.
• Upgrade race: Mercedes has one engine upgrade left; Red Bull has none, giving Ferrari a rare window to close the power gap without immediate retaliation.

What's next:

McLaren principal Andrea Stella outlined a "clear agenda" targeting aerodynamic grip and tyre degradation, but Norris knows time is short. With Ferrari poised to unlock further gains and McLaren already 121 points adrift in the Constructors' standings, the Austrian Grand Prix could reveal whether Ferrari's rumored engine upgrade arrives—and just how far ahead they might pull.