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Ferrari faces significant Mercedes power deficit

Autosport F1 News •
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Lewis Hamilton warns Ferrari faces a substantial power deficit against Mercedes, potentially doubling at circuits like Silverstone and Spa. Despite recent upgrades, Ferrari's engine performance lags, with Hamilton estimating a four-tenths loss on straights. This gap is exacerbated by the energy management demands of upcoming tracks, where Ferrari struggles to recover lost time.

Hamilton highlights that Mercedes' power unit advantage isn't solely about peak power but also superior energy deployment. Upcoming races with long straights and limited charging opportunities will amplify this issue. Charles Leclerc echoes these concerns, admitting struggles in Austria and anticipating difficult weekends ahead, urging a focus on continuous improvement and extracting maximum performance.

While not conceding the season, Hamilton stresses the need for Ferrari to maximize points on challenging circuits and target tracks like Budapest that better suit their car's characteristics. He acknowledges Mercedes' formidable package and Red Bull's resurgence, emphasizing that the championship fight remains open but requires Ferrari to perform beyond their current capabilities.