Hamilton sends Mercedes warning as Ferrari target aggressive upgrade timeline

Ferrari are deemed to be one of the strongest outfits when it comes to cornering under the new 2026 regulations, but a lack of straight line speed compared to Constructors leaders Mercedes has been what has kept them from consistently challenging for wins.

The Scuderia sit P2 in the standings at the season's halfway point, trailing the Silver Arrows by 72 points following a somewhat anticlimactic P4 and P5 finish for Charles Leclerc and Hamilton, respectively at the Hungaroring last time out. However, the duo have each picked up a win in the first half of the season, with Leclerc's Silverstone victory coming two rounds after a maiden Ferrari victory for a rejuvenated Hamilton.

Reflecting on the season so far, Hamilton told GPblog and others: “It has been an amazing first half, given we've been probably three or four tenths down on the straights based on power for the first half of the season. I know the guys are pushing hard to bring upgrades for that.

Citing Ferrari's aggressive upgrade strategy so far, Hamilton anticipates an even stronger second half of the season, not only for the team, but his own personal performances. He added: "We've been bringing upgrades weekend in, weekend out.

Hamilton's Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur shares similar hopes that the team can "keep the pace" in the second half of 2026 in terms of upgrades. In his review of the season so far, Vasseur split the first half of the year into two stages, pre and post-Barcelona. In the five races since Hamilton's win in Spain, the Scuderia have scored more points than anyone.

Vasseur told media, including GPblog: "The first part of the season was, I would say, probably in two stages. The first one is until Spain when Mercedes was flying, where they scored something like 100 points more than us in four or five events. Of course, after Spain, we came back, we scored more points than Mercedes in these four or five races.

In Budapest, for the first time this season, it was neither a Mercedes nor Ferrari driver on the top step, as world champion Lando Norris secured McLaren's first win. The papaya team brought a significant upgrade package to the Hungaroring, and while many tip this to be a turning point for the reigning Constructors champions, Vasseur insisted Ferrari will continue to adopt an aggressive upgrade "philosophy" once F1 returns in late August.

He added: "McLaren did a huge step forward, but they don't have exactly the same philosophy, because they are bringing a big package. I think the last one was Miami or Canada. For sure, each time that they are bringing something, they are making a huge step.