Ferrari gains two tenths less than Mercedes from Q2 to Q3 as tyre window magnifies engine deficit

Data shows Mercedes drivers gain almost two tenths of a second more than Ferrari drivers between Q2 and Q3 during the 2026 season. While Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell average progression improvements exceeding half a second, Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton improve by roughly three to four tenths, pointing to technical limitations with the SF-26 car.

Elena Rossi reports that Ferrari's qualifying struggles stem from a combination of a power-unit deficit, energy deployment challenges, and difficulty rapidly switching tyres into their narrow operating window. Although the car manages tyres gently across race stints, its compromised qualifying positions consistently hinder Ferrari's ability to exploit that race-pace strength.