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All the positives from Ferrari’s strong showing at the Australian Grand Prix cannot hide their strategic blunders.
Ferrari managed to make a good account of themselves to start the 2026 season, as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton combined to get third and fourth place behind the two Mercedes drivers.
Hamilton’s communication with Ferrari was far more positive than last season, as the team look a lot more prepared for success in 2026.
Some standout performers in Melbourne 👀 Who was you Driver of the Day at the Australian GP?
Charles Leclerc even admitted Mercedes’ pace shocked him, not because they were too fast, but because he expected them to be even faster.
All signs point to both Hamilton and Leclerc finding success with Ferrari this year. But one pivotal moment in the race showed they still have a glaring weakness they’ve yet to address.
READ MORE: Ferrari believe they can halve Mercedes’ 0.6-second engine advantage during 2026 season
Ferrari’s failure to pit during virtual safety car shows inability to adapt to changing race conditions
One of the notable moments from the race was when Charles Leclerc was in the lead, and a virtual safety car was implemented due to Isack Hadjar stopping on the track.
In a bit of shrewd thinking, Mercedes immediately decided to pit both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, putting them on new hard tyres.
However, Ferrari opted not to do so, choosing to let Leclerc and Hamilton build a sizable lead and pit later in the race.
This strategic error proved to be crucial, as Mercedes would eventually take the lead, and even after switching tyres, Leclerc and Hamilton weren’t able to come close to them.
Ferrari’s pit strategy cost them a potential one-two finish. More importantly, it showed that despite all the changes and improvements they’ve made to the car, their strategy is still not perfect.
Over the last few years, Ferrari have come under criticism for their failure to adapt to changing race conditions. This failure has led to them surrendering winning positions in multiple races over the years.
If Ferrari are serious about competing for a championship this year, they must get better at calling things on the fly, as failing to do so could be the difference between first and second place in the constructors’ table.
Mercedes claim a one-two finish to start F1’s new era! Which driver stands out from the top 10 of the Australian Grand Prix?
Let us know in the comments below!
READ MORE: Anthony Davidson says Lewis Hamilton onboard is ‘painful’ listening amid Ferrari energy issues
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have genuine championship opportunity if Ferrari get things right
There were a lot of positives for Ferrari, despite the pit strategy error in Australia. The cars both seemed to have pace, and Leclerc and Hamilton managed things quite well.
On top of that, both Hamilton and Leclerc were encouraged to compete in the final portion of the race for a podium finish, even with the risk of a possible collision.
If Ferrari adjust their approach to strategising around races, allowing for changes to be made with a change in circumstances during racing, they have a solid chance to compete for a title.
And it gives both Leclerc and Hamilton a genuine shot at competing for the drivers’ championship, something both drivers are eager to do.
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