Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Mercedes are the favourites for the title in the 2026 Formula 1 season, but some people in the paddock think Ferrari could be about to mount a serious challenge.
The Maranello outfit endured a torrid 2025 campaign, going winless and finishing P4 in the standings. Fred Vasseur is under huge pressure to deliver a competitive car for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
George Russell starts Week 2 at the 2026 F1 Bahrain test on top! But what stood out the most?
Heading into 2026, many believed Mercedes would have the fastest power unit with the regulation changes. But Ferrari abandoned development in 2025 early on to focus on the new ruleset, and things could be paying off for the Prancing Horse.
Ferrari are testing an ‘unprecedented’ exhaust in Bahrain, which has caught the attention of rivals in the paddock, notably McLaren boss Andrea Stella. With further technical upgrades being introduced, some think that they could be a title contender.
Jolyon Palmer says F1 paddock believes Ferrari shouldn’t be overlooked against Mercedes
Jolyon Palmer was discussing Ferrari during day one of testing at the Sakhir International Circuit on Sky Sports F1 (18/2, 2:14 pm). He had been speaking to people within the paddock, and he revealed that they believe that Ferrari should not be overlooked in the title picture.
“Again, speaking to people in the paddock, there’s a lot of people saying they could be the team to beat,” said Palmer.
“Mercedes generally seems to be the favourite, still, and there’s a feeling that they’re holding something back.
“But there’s other people saying Ferrari, the power unit is very reliable, the car looks good, they’re adding new parts, finding more downforce, and some people think that they are absolutely at least in the fight with Mercedes out front and we shouldn’t overlook them at this stage.”
READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory
Could 2026 be Lewis Hamilton’s year with Ferrari?
Ralf Schumacher has U-turned on Ferrari after seeing them in testing. He thinks they are in a much better position than previously feared, especially Hamilton.
Anthony Davidson saw Hamilton looks ‘at home’ in Ferrari’s SF-26. The 41-year-old has had more influence over the car’s development, and it seems to have paid off as he looks more comfortable in the machine.
Alex Albon has had his say, but which driver do you think is best suited to the 2026 regulations?
Alex Albon thinks the 2026 regulations will suit Hamilton more than any other driver on the grid. The lighter cars could be just what he needs, as the ground-effect cars nullified his braking strength.
Whether Ferrari can challenge for the championship is anyone’s guess at this stage. With no drivers’ title since 2007, the Tifosi will be desperate to see Hamilton or Leclerc lead them to glory, and if the rumours are anything to go by, they could be on course to do that.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
