Hamilton says Ferrari can fight at the front after P2 in Barcelona
NXTbets Pro | Published On: June 15, 2026
Hamilton qualifies second
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton qualified second at Barcelona, his best qualifying result since joining Ferrari in 2025. He was 0.064 seconds behind Mercedes driver George Russell, a margin that kept Hamilton on the front row and put Ferrari squarely in the conversation for a stronger weekend. Hamilton said the team made setup changes after final practice that restored his confidence, and he said the upgrades worked properly in qualifying. He credited Ferrari’s factory staff for delivering the package and for the setup direction that let him extract a fast lap. The result arrived after a difficult run through practice, a stretch Hamilton described as personally draining, and after he briefly stepped away from the paddock to reset mentally before the shootout session. That mental reset appeared to help him deliver a clear lap when it mattered most.
Ferrari upgrade package
Ferrari brought a major upgrade package to the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix that covered the front wing, nose, floor, diffuser and sidepod. The changes aimed at an across-the-board aerodynamic and balance gain, and Hamilton said they behaved as intended in qualifying trim. He reported the car felt much better after the setup adjustments the team made, and he used those gains to close the gap to pole. Hamilton said the work gave Ferrari a clearer direction for development, telling team staff that the squad now knows where its "North Star" is. He framed the package as more than a single-step fix. Hamilton said the upgrades paired with the factory’s input have created a tangible opportunity for Ferrari to fight at the front.
Remaining race concerns
Hamilton said Mercedes still looked very quick and that Ferrari still needs more race pace if the team wants to convert qualifying speed into race results. The weekend left mixed signals for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc crashed in Q3 and will start 10th, a result that will complicate the team’s tactical options and place extra emphasis on Hamilton to score strong points. Ferrari remained second in the constructors’ standings behind Mercedes, a position that reflects progress but also the gap the team must close over a full Grand Prix distance. Hamilton missed first practice because junior driver Dino Beganovic drove his car in that session, a detail that added an unusual wrinkle to setup work. Hamilton’s comments about the upgrades and the team’s direction were framed against those realities: faster in qualifying, still searching for consistent race performance.
