Ferrari SF-26 analysis: why performance became harder to extract after Budapest

Luca Marini's analysis explains that Ferrari's SF-26 has not suffered an outright pace collapse since Budapest, but its operating window has significantly narrowed. The team has been forced into compromises balancing straight-line speed, tyre warm-up, and mechanical stability, which were prominently exposed at the Baku street circuit despite Charles Leclerc qualifying on the front row behind Mercedes driver George Russell.

Team principal Frédéric Vasseur described a negative spiral where a power-unit deficit forces Ferrari to reduce downforce to protect top speed and electrical energy deployment. This compromise sacrifices cornering grip and tyre temperature management, while the car's rigid aerodynamic platform exacerbates low-speed traction struggles over bumps and kerbs.