Ferrari upgrades deliver Barcelona win but engine power lags, Norris warns
NXTbets Pro | Published On: June 15, 2026
Ferrari upgrades deliver win
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari driver, won the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, bringing Ferrari its first Formula 1 victory of the season and its first win since Singapore in 2024. The result came after Ferrari introduced a major upgrade package that changed the front wing, nose, floor, diffuser and sidepod. The updates lifted Ferrari’s one-lap and race credentials, helping Hamilton qualify on the front row for the first time in a Ferrari, 0.064 seconds off George Russell’s pole time. Hamilton said the team now knows where its "North Star" is after the Barcelona updates and praised the factory staff for their work behind the package. He also said the team still needs to find more race pace. Team strategy played a role in the win, and Ferrari’s calls during a Virtual Safety Car period helped protect track position and convert the improved car performance into a race victory.
Cornering strength vs straight-line power
Norris assessed the balance of performance and zeroed in on Ferrari’s cornering gains, saying the team already looks exceptional in corners and appears to have the strongest cornering performance on the grid. He pointed out that Ferrari’s main weakness is straight-line power, which constrains how dominant the team can be around a lap that mixes long straights and technical turns. Norris warned that Ferrari could "embarrass everyone" if it closes the engine deficit, and he cited the FIA’s new ADUO rankings showing Ferrari 4% behind the benchmark internal combustion engine. Andrea Stella echoed the view inside Ferrari, saying the car looks especially strong in medium-speed corners and is not the fastest in a straight line, but he added that the recent upgrades have turned the package into a genuine race-winning threat.
Upgrades roadmap and strategic implications
The technical work on the chassis delivered immediate gains, and the path forward centers on power unit development under rules that could let Ferrari add two engine upgrades this season and two more next year. That regulatory allowance gives Ferrari a clear runway to chase the straight-line deficit that limits its ceiling today. The team converted chassis gains into a win at Barcelona with shrewd strategy during a Virtual Safety Car period, showing how in-race calls and aero improvements can combine to challenge rivals now. Closing the engine gap would change the balance entirely, but until that happens Ferrari’s strength in corners and its recent aero package will dictate how often the team can turn pace into victories.
