Ferrari has once again shown with Charles Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone that it can put pressure on Mercedes in 2026. After the dominant start to the season by the Silberpfeile, who remained unbeaten in the first six Grands Prix, the Scuderia seems to be slowly catching up thanks to a comprehensive upgrade package. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff therefore expects Ferrari to remain a serious challenger for the rest of the season, although Fred Vasseur tempers expectations.
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Wolff saw Ferrari defy all expectations at Silverstone. “We mainly have to look at ourselves,” the Austrian responded. “They (Ferrari, ed.) said before the weekend that they would lack energy on this circuit, but that turned out not to be the case. They were a strong competitor and I expect them to be so for the rest of the season as well.” Ferrari secured its second win in three races, after Lewis Hamilton had earlier claimed the inaugural GP of Catalonia in Barcelona.
Vasseur downplays title fight
However, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur does not want to hear about a title fight. Despite the recent successes, he emphasizes that his team is still behind Mercedes and mainly needs to become more consistent. “I want to avoid the word ‘title fight’,” he said after the race weekend. “We do not consider ourselves champions yet; we are trying to improve step by step. I never draw conclusions after one or two races, regardless of whether the result is good or bad. I simply focus on getting better each time. That applies not only to me but to everyone in the factory.”
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Also with an eye on the Belgian GP, Vasseur remains cautious. “Let’s focus on Belgium,” he continued, “and just have a good race there. Honestly, I think Mercedes still has an advantage. If you look at the six or seven sessions we completed at Silverstone, they are probably still ahead. At the same time, we did have a strong race. Of course, you can benefit from a good start and a strong strategy. In a sprint race, for example, it’s much more about pure speed. Realistically, Mercedes is still a fraction better in that regard. It will be tough, but let’s mainly focus on Belgium.”
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Read everything about the Belgian GP here
