With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on the books, Ferrari boast arguably the strongest driver line-up on the Formula 1 grid. But that also creates a significant problem for the Scuderia to juggle, says one prominent Sky Sports F1 star, especially given they have made a promising start to the new season.
But that was in a car in which he had no input. He made a point of adding as much as he could to his team’s 2026 development and is reaping the rewards, feeling far more at him behind the wheel of the SF-26. And the car looks to be stronger for Leclerc too, even if it doesn’t seem to suit his driving style.
Ferrari have stood on the podium at the end of all three Grands Prix held so far in 2026, including Hamilton’s long-awaited maiden top-three Grand Prix finish in red. “It’s wonderful – a strong Ferrari is good for everyone,” Sky F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham told Express Sport.
She then added: “The sport is a better place when Ferrari are doing well. It’s the year of the horse so, who knows? The Prancing Horse may well triumph.”
They will do well to manage that, given the start Mercedes have made. Ferrari’s car looks to be a match for the Mercedes team on the chassis and aerodynamics front, but their engine is lacking. And that has been the difference-maker in the early weeks of the campaign: Ferrari have started races well, but been unable to maintain the pace required to keep up with the Silver Arrows.
Hamilton and Leclerc have been trading podiums up to now, the Monegasque having appeared on them twice up to now and eight points ahead of his British team-mate in the championship as a result.
But both are already being cut adrift of the Mercedes duo. Kimi Antonelli, the youngest championship leader in F1 history aged just 19, is already 23 points ahead of Leclerc and 31 clear of Hamilton. A Grand Prix victory’s-worth of points is a huge advantage to have so early in a season.
The fact Leclerc and Hamilton are so strong individually, and will want to be the ones to deliver if Ferrari do manage to get a shot at the title, is the problem that Pinkham believes could harm the team in the long run.
She said: “Don’t make me choose between Lewis and Charles. If this is the year Ferrari win, both drivers would thoroughly deserve it. It would be amazing to see Lewis get his eighth world title. But Charles is just such a lovely human being and very patient, worked incredibly hard, very modest.
“This is a guy who’s got it all, but doesn’t blow his own trumpet ever. And he’s a joy to interview. It’d be lovely to see him do well as well. It’s difficult to choose when they sort of bring different things.
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“But you’ve also got to consider when a driver lineup is that strong, they can take points off each other and ultimately harm the team’s chances of the constructors’ or indeed one of them winning the championship.
“We saw Max sneak up and just miss a fifth world title by two points [to Lando Norris, who spent the season duelling with team-mate Oscar Piastri]. That’s crazy to think. His comeback at the end of last year, I mean, arguably Max’s best season in Formula 1 and he didn’t win the title. That’s wild.”
