Ferrari handed 'good sign' verdict amid scrutiny from F1 rivals

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has pointed to the "good sign" that Ferrari has produced a competitive car this year. 

The Scuderia have been among the frontrunners from the outset of the 2026 campaign, with the SF-26 proving a genuine contender under the new regulations. 

Fred Vasseur's outfit arrived with bold design choices that have caught the attention of rivals and pundits alike, including the 'Macarena wing' that some other teams have since adopted.

Brundle believes it is a clear indication that Maranello's engineering department is leading rather than following.

"They've done a great job this year," Brundle told Sky F1. "They've shown more confidence in the car. They were quite adventurous, quite avant-garde in some things."

"They were really smart, like the wing. The wing would be a good example of that. Some other things, the exhaust that other teams have copied, which is always a good sign. 

“They seem more confident in their strategy as well in the race."

Lewis Hamilton endured difficult seasons grappling with the previous generation of ground-effect machinery, but the 2026 regulations have seemingly unlocked a car more suited to his preferences.

At 41, Hamilton is driving with a renewed energy that has lifted the entire team, and Brundle asserted the results are reflecting that shift in momentum.

"Lewis loves these cars. He didn't like the ground effect car. So if you put all of that together, the momentum, it's like a snowball," Brundle added. "

You're happier, everybody's happier, the car's gripping up better. You're not wrecking your tyres so quickly, and that's what we're seeing with Ferrari."