Ferrari made a positive impression in the first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season, and former category driver and current commentator Martin Brundle believes this goes beyond the results on the track. For him, the fact that other teams are adopting solutions developed in Maranello is a strong indication of the quality of the Italian project.
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In Brundle’s assessment, Ferrari started the championship among the main forces with the SF-26, a car developed for the new technical regulations. According to the Sky F1 commentator, the team took a bold approach to development and began to serve as a reference for its competitors, rather than just following the grid trends.
“They did a great job this year. They showed more confidence in the car. They were quite bold, quite avant-garde in some things,” Brundle said. As an example, he cited the wing nicknamed ‘Macarena,’ a solution that ended up being followed by other teams, in addition to highlighting the exhaust system developed by Ferrari: “They were really smart, like with the wing. The wing would be a good example of that. Some other things, the exhaust that other teams copied, that’s always a good sign,” he said.
Brundle also pointed to an evolution in how Ferrari conducts its races: “They also seem more confident in their strategy during the races,” emphasizing that the team’s growth is not limited to the car’s performance.
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Another factor highlighted by the former driver was Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation to the 2026 regulations. According to Brundle, the Briton found a car more compatible with his driving style after the difficulties faced with the previous generation of cars: “Lewis loves these cars. He didn’t like the ground effect car. Putting all this together, the moment the team is experiencing is like a snowball,” he added.
Brundle continued, saying that the positive environment experienced by Ferrari contributes to enhancing this performance: “You become happier, everyone becomes happier, the car gains more grip. You don’t destroy the tires so quickly, and that’s what we’re seeing at Ferrari,” concluded the former driver.
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