APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Ferrari target Mercedes with floor and engine upgrades as Hamilton eyes title surge
Ferrari is readying floor and engine updates for the second half of 2026, as Lewis Hamilton aims to overcome a straight-line power deficit and chase down leader Kimi Antonelli.
By Ruben Smit - 2026-08-10T12:30:00.000Z - 3 min read
Ferrari is preparing a significant technical response for the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, readying a combined package of floor and engine developments as it attempts to bridge the gap to Mercedes. The Maranello squad has spent the opening 11 races holding second place in the constructors' standings, but a persistent straight-line deficit has left its drivers working hard to stay within touch of the championship lead.
Entering the summer shutdown, Lewis Hamilton sits second in the drivers' championship, trailing leader Kimi Antonelli by 50 points while holding a tight nine-point margin over George Russell. Despite securing only a single grand prix victory during the opening stint of the year, Hamilton has relied on high reliability and remarkable consistency to keep his pursuit of an eighth world title alive.
The root of Ferrari's early-season struggle has stemmed from a shortfall on straight-line speed. Hamilton revealed that the team was giving away roughly three to four tenths of a second on the straights during the first half of the year due to engine power differences. Team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that the opening 11 rounds followed a distinct pattern, setting up what the team views as a season of two contrasting halves.
To counter that deficit, Ferrari engineers are pushing to deliver new floor concepts alongside power unit updates once action resumes. With the 2026 season governed by an entirely new set of technical regulations, the championship has turned into an aggressive development race among top teams. Each major aerodynamic and mechanical step has triggered noticeable swings in competitiveness across the grid.
Hamilton remains confident that Maranello's upcoming hardware changes will align with his traditional mid-season surge. The British driver has historically produced his most dominant form following the summer break, delivering decisive title pushes in 2014, 2017 and 2018. During the truncated 2020 campaign, he claimed victory in six of the final nine events despite being forced to sit out one race after a positive virus test.
Reclaiming ground will not be straightforward given the expanding list of race-winning contenders. McLaren underscored the fluid nature of the current regulations by securing its first win of the campaign in Hungary, while Max Verstappen and Red Bull continue to pose a persistent threat at the front of the field. Stealing points from rival teams will grow increasingly complex as multiple constructors bring their own upgrade programs online.
Hamilton plans to use the mandatory shutdown to reset physically and mentally before resuming the title chase. With Ferrari targeting measurable gains from its revised floor and upgraded power unit, the team is banking on its second-half push to convert consistency into genuine match-winning pace against Mercedes.