Ferrari hope to put Mercedes ‘under more pressure’ in China

Ferrari's driver duo, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, remain optimistic about challenging Mercedes throughout the 2026 season despite the German team's significant performance advantage observed in the Australian opener. Leclerc, who finished third in Melbourne, acknowledged the substantial eight-tenths gap in qualifying but emphasized that Ferrari is closer in race trim and remains focused on optimization. Looking ahead to the Sprint weekend in Shanghai, Leclerc highlighted the intensified pressure of limited practice time, noting the critical importance of a strong FP1 performance. Hamilton echoed these sentiments, expressing confidence in the team's ongoing development while tempering expectations for an immediate victory in China, citing the difficulty of closing such a performance gap in just a few days. Both drivers remain committed to maximizing their package as they face competition from a tightening grid featuring McLaren and Red Bull.