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Ferrari battles car balance woes in Japan: is McLaren now the new F1 benchmark?

Harry Bright by Harry Bright
March 27, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Ferrari battles car balance woes in Japan: is McLaren now the new F1 benchmark?

Ferrari Faces Harsh Reality in Japan: “We're Just Not Quick Enough!”

In a dramatic turn of events at the Suzuka circuit, Ferrari finds itself grappling with the grim acknowledgment that its pace simply isn't cutting it. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been vocal in his assessment, declaring that the iconic Scuderia is “just not quick enough” to compete with the front-runners. As the team prepares to battle its fierce rival McLaren in the 2026 Formula 1 season, the pressure is on to rectify the car's balance woes.

During Friday's second practice session, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively—lagging nearly a full second behind session leader Oscar Piastri from McLaren. This staggering gap is alarming, particularly as the Scuderia struggled significantly on the straights, losing nearly four-tenths right out of the gates on Suzuka's famed home straight and into the challenging Turn 1. While the Ferraris managed to reclaim some time in slower corners, they fell further behind when it came to straight-line speed against their Mercedes competitors.

Hamilton, ever the strategist, pointed out that the issues extend beyond just energy deployment. The Brit acknowledged that both he and Leclerc grappled with the tricky balance of the SF-26, stating, “The car generally feels okay, it's just not quick enough at the moment, and I think it's just balance.” He emphasized the urgent need for the team to work diligently overnight to enhance the car's setup, underscoring that a staggering four-tenths deficit into Turn 1 compared to McLaren must be addressed. “Deployment is part of it, I'm sure we can do a better job on improving on that, and then I think there's more performance in the car to extract if we can get the setup right,” Hamilton added, leaving no doubt that the clock is ticking for Ferrari.

On the other hand, Ferrari's sporting director, Diego Ioverno, conveyed a sobering perspective on the situation. He noted that the performance gap was “more or less where we expected it to be,” aligning with the team's previous two races. However, he acknowledged the need for improvement, pledging to analyze data meticulously to tackle the “small issues” that have hindered their performance. “I think you heard Lewis complaining about the lack of confidence. The track is difficult with the new surface in the second part. A key factor would be to make sure the tyres are working from the first lap. Nothing unexpected, let me say,” Ioverno remarked, offering a glimpse into the team's strategy moving forward.

As the racing world holds its breath, the question remains: Can Ferrari bounce back and reclaim its former glory? With the stakes higher than ever, only time will tell if the Scuderia can turn things around and give fans the exhilarating performance they crave. The battle lines have been drawn, and the challenge ahead is monumental.

Tags: Ferrariformula-1-enLewis HamiltonMcLaren
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