Overview
- Lewis Hamilton this week at Silverstone said Ferrari loses roughly 0.4 seconds per lap on long straights because of lower top-end power and weaker battery deployment, a shortfall he warned could double on circuits like Silverstone and Spa.
- Drivers expect long high-speed sections to force heavy energy management where the SF-26’s MGU‑K and battery cannot sustain deployment, forcing coasting and lost lap time in key corners such as Copse and Maggots-Becketts.
- Mercedes has set the early benchmark with a run of wins led by Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, leaving Ferrari needing tangible engine and energy fixes to recover championship ground.
- Max Verstappen publicly rejected transfer speculation this week, saying any change would come from him, while McLaren executives and drivers have reiterated that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri remain in place.
- Teams will use the next races to evaluate recent upgrades and reliability fixes, with the Hungarian Grand Prix and the summer break identified as the likely decision window for crucial upgrades and several high-profile driver-market outcomes.