Ferrari has been a season of two halves, says team principal Fred Vasseur, after the first 11 rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Scuderia have held second in the constructors' championship and have been challenging mission Mercedes' dominant Silver Arrows more consistently, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc winning at Barcelona and Silverstone respectively. Vasseur noted that until Spain Mercedes ran 100 points ahead, but since then Ferrari has out‑scored them in four to five races.

Points tables confirm the split: Mercedes 2441, contributing Ferrari 1422, with McLaren 1163 and Red Bull 1084. Recent technical setbacks—Russell's retirement in Canada and a penalty in Monaco, Antonelli's failure at Silverstone—have cost Mercedes, while Ferrari's Hungaroring weekend was scrappy. Vasseur stresses the need for better execution and engine development to keep pace.

Hamilton remains optimistic about Ferrari bridging the gap once the Prancing Horse updates its power unit, saying the second half will be stronger. Leclerc echoes this, stating that upgrades are now decisive in the championship and that keeping the development program aggressive will be key heading into Zandvoort.