Will Buxton believes Ferrari could possibly be again in competition throughout the upcoming 2026 F1 season.
Ferrari loved a powerful pre-season, setting the tempo in each the Barcelona shakedown and the Bahrain take a look at. The Italian group’s reliability and efficiency impressed its rivals, whereas Ferrari additionally attracted consideration with some eye-catching improvements in its SF-26 machine.
Regardless of stating the same old caveats that apply to pre-season testing, F1 TV presenter Buxton praised Ferrari and predicted the Scuderia would bounce again strongly from a depressing and winless 2025.
“I’ll begin with Ferrari, as a result of they’re the F1 world champions in testing. I do know that is mindless in any respect. However let’s begin with outright tempo. They got here out on high in testing,” Buxton stated on the As much as Velocity podcast.
“This 12 months, the rules have modified. Now, each time a driver hits a straight, they’ll open their rear wing and entrance wing to scale back drag, cut back downforce and improve top-line pace. Each group has that rear wing open. In Ferrari’s case, it would not simply open up. It flips 180 levels, the other way up.”
“Okay, what does it do? The basics of aerodynamics in F1 are the other of an airplane’s wings. An airplane’s wings are designed to offer carry and propel you into the air. The wings of an F1 automotive are the other way up and designed to push the automotive down the observe and improve grip.
“So when you rotate this wing 180 levels, it basically turns into an airplane wing and creates carry. The little winglet on the backside simply helps push the rear tires right down to the bottom so they do not get lifted into the air. It is extremely sensible. It means the Ferrari is driving straight.”
Along with Charles Leclerc setting the quickest time in testing, Ferrari’s rocket observe begin on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit additionally attracted consideration.
“Then, as you noticed from the beginning of observe, the Ferrari went off the road…all the opposite automobiles had been in rows one, two and three. Lewis got here again in about row 10. He wasn’t even in Bahrain anymore, and by the point they acquired into the primary nook Lewis was in first place,” continued Buxton.
“The best way we have a look at it in the intervening time is that Ferrari might qualify on the again row of the grid and lead the grand prix by flip one. That is how good this automotive seems to be.”
Can Lewis Hamilton get again to his finest?
lewis hamilton
Lewis Hamilton had a really disappointing debut season with Ferrari, however Buxton believes the 2026 regulation evaluate will assist the seven-time world champion return to his prime.
The 41-year-old Briton failed to attain a grand prix podium for the primary time in his illustrious F1 profession final season, successful simply two races throughout the floor results period from 2022 to 2025.
“I hope this will get again into the fingers of some drivers, or ought to I say old-school drivers who did not benefit from the earlier technology of automobiles,” Buxton stated.
“Persons are saying, ‘Lewis is washed up, he is by no means going to win one other race, he is by no means going to win a world championship once more.’ I do not suppose he’ll lose the ability and skill that made him a seven-time world champion in a single day.”
“As a result of what we noticed in 2021-2022 was that Lewis went from being the most effective participant in his area to being a questionable participant in a single day. You do not lose potential in a single day. That is the automotive for me.”
Buxton added on Radio X’s Chris Moyles Present: “I feel Lewis Hamilton will win the race once more.”
