As FormulaUno.it reports, Ferrari walks away from Austin seeing clear, positive signs from the updated SF-26, yet the lingering sting of a missed opportunity remains very real. Frederic Vasseur made it clear that starting down in fourth or fifth left his squad with a mountain to climb, making the final grand prix result pretty much the absolute ceiling of what the machine could deliver. Even so, a late Virtual Safety Car chopped away precious laps, robbing Lewis Hamilton of a genuine chance to hunt down Max Verstappen in the closing stages.
That said, the team principal found plenty to praise in the garage's operational work. The race pace was strong, and an aggressive two-stop strategy paid off nicely on a Sunday where keeping the rubber alive dictated everything. But Saturday was a different story entirely. Vasseur pointed out the blunt reality of their weekend: in this job, you only leave happy with a victory, and missing the mark during those crucial Q3 runs ultimately handcuffed their Sunday.
It is fascinating how razor-thin the margins are with these modern beasts. Citing struggles in Q3, Vasseur noted how even heavyweights like George Russell, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri failed to improve when it mattered most. A tiny gust of wind or a minor swing in track temperature is all it takes to throw off tyre behavior completely, turning a promising corner entry into an absolute grip disaster.
Now, the circus packs up and heads straight into the unique beast that is Mexico. Altitude changes everything there, and Vasseur warns that it will easily be the hardest adaptation exercise of the entire calendar. For the first time all year, teams will deal with downforce levels never seen before, as the thin air drastically alters the aerodynamic reality compared to previous circuits.
That means drivers will face a massive challenge getting their machines to bite into the tarmac during Friday practice. In fact, Vasseur expects everyone to be complaining about a total lack of grip right out of the pit lane. The SF-26 has undoubtedly grown stronger in raw pace and potential, but as the team turns its eyes toward Mexico, the mission is simple: nail Saturday, unlock the grid, and stop leaving points on the table.
