Charles Leclerc warned Ferrari about the development battle in Formula 1 in 2026. The Monegasque driver emphasized that updates will be decisive for the direction of the current season.
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The category underwent a major regulation change this year, with significant alterations to aerodynamics and the power unit. In this scenario, Mercedes started with an advantage and won the first three rounds of the championship.
Although Ferrari has not yet been able to consistently compete with the German team, the team has secured a podium in every race so far. Nevertheless, Leclerc made it clear that the current performance is far from the main objective.
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“The championship will be all about development and the updates each team will bring,” Leclerc stated. “We are in a reasonable position, but we are not here just to achieve podiums, we want to win races, and that seems difficult at the moment because Mercedes is at a very high level,” he added.
The season will resume in Miami in early May, where several teams are expected to introduce updates. Leclerc stated that Ferrari is working intensely on new parts, but acknowledged that competitors are also evolving, indicating that the battle should remain tight in the upcoming rounds.
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