Karun Chandhok says Ferrari must ‘force’ Mercedes into using the battery ‘where they don’t want to’

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Ferrari have a battery advantage over Mercedes that they must exploit at the Japanese Grand Prix.

In the early stages of the 2026 Formula 1 season, it has become notable that once Mercedes find clean air, they are able to utilise their battery to make a gap over the field.

However, it has been suggested that Ferrari have a way to combat this with their smaller turbo, but they have not been aggressive enough in Australia or China to make it effective.

Ferrari have a clear advantage in the early stages of races and at the beginning of stints, which would be able to overcome Mercedes’ bigger turbo. It has been suggested that if Ferrari force Mercedes to use their battery in unwanted spots, they will be able to benefit later in the race.

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Karun Chandhok discusses Ferrari’s strategy against Mercedes

During Sky Sports coverage of Free Practice Two at the Japanese Grand Prix, Karun Chandhok discussed how Ferrari must utilise their advantage in the early stages of races and stints to beat Mercedes.

The former Formula 1 driver believes Ferrari need to hold up the Mercedes drivers on track, and force them into using their battery at points they normally would not in an attempt to make an overtake.

Chandhok said, “For whatever reason, the Ferrari is quick off the line and quick in the early parts of the stints. We have seen that in the three races that we have seen so far, so make hay.

“Force the others, whether it is McLaren, whether it is Mercedes, force them to have to work hard to get past you, don’t give them the opportunity to have free air, forcing them to use the battery where they don’t want to use it to fight you, will cost your rival.

“That is what we are learning in this type of Formula 1, so I thought Ferrari in the early part were doing a great job, because George [Russell] was fighting two Ferraris in Melbourne, and he could not get the battery back where he wanted to… In a straight fight, the Mercedes is a faster car.”

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Are Ferrari back and able to fight Mercedes in Japan?

After featuring on the Sprint Race podium and Grand Prix podium at the Chinese Grand Prix two weeks ago, Ferrari were riding on a high as they arrived at the Japanese Grand Prix.

There is a belief from former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher that Mercedes have not played all their cards so far in 2026, and that they still have something up their sleeves to play against Ferrari.

Schumacher said, “I do believe that they still have something up their sleeve… There is a possibility that Mercedes can step up again.”

However, on the other hand, Juan Pablo Montoya believes that Ferrari could be back, and Lewis Hamilton’s recent form could inadvertently impact Charles Leclerc.

Montoya said, “If Lewis manages to structurally beat Charles, he will really sit in Leclerc’s head. That’s going to be very hard for Charles mentally.”