Lewis Hamilton’s preparations for the Mexican Grand Prix suffered a major setback after his Ferrari stopped on track during Friday’s second practice session, costing the seven-time world champion valuable running time.
Hamilton had arrived in Mexico hoping to gather important information about Ferrari’s performance as the team continues working to address the weaknesses that have affected its 2026 campaign. However, his FP2 session ended prematurely when he reported a power-related problem over the team radio. Ferrari subsequently instructed him to stop the car shortly after Turn 4, explaining that the decision had been taken as a precaution.
The breakdown was particularly frustrating because Hamilton has made it clear that the remaining races of the season are an important opportunity to prepare for next year. With Ferrari determined to close the gap to Mercedes and Red Bull, every practice session offers valuable information that could influence the development direction of its 2027 challenger.
HAMILTON LOSES VALUABLE TRACK TIME IN MEXICO
Ferrari had already taken an unusual approach to Friday’s opening practice session. While other teams gave up one of their cars to satisfy the mandatory rookie-driver running requirements, the Scuderia chose to prioritise its preparations by keeping both regular drivers involved in the session.
Hamilton used FP1 to gather aerodynamic information, running with a substantial aero rake attached to his Ferrari to help engineers understand airflow around the car.
The Briton finished fourth, approximately seven-tenths of a second behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, who topped the session with a time of 1:18.128.
However, Ferrari’s preparations became more complicated in FP2 when Hamilton encountered the problem that forced him to stop.
The team confirmed that the car had been brought to a halt as a precaution, but the interruption meant Hamilton lost an important opportunity to evaluate the car’s balance and gather further information.
FERRARI’S POWER UNIT WEAKNESS RETURNS TO THE SPOTLIGHT
Hamilton’s breakdown has also brought renewed attention to Ferrari’s engine performance.
The Mexican Grand Prix takes place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, which sits at considerable altitude. The thinner air creates additional challenges for Formula 1 power units, particularly because turbochargers must work harder to compensate for the reduced oxygen available.
Cooling and energy management also become important considerations, making Mexico a demanding environment for teams.
Hamilton had already identified engine performance as Ferrari’s biggest priority heading into the final stages of the season. Although he acknowledged that the team had achieved good reliability overall, he believes the power deficit has prevented Ferrari from fighting consistently for victories and the championship.
His latest interruption makes the situation even more frustrating, although Ferrari’s description of the stoppage as precautionary means it should not automatically be treated as evidence of a major engine failure.
HAMILTON IS ALREADY THINKING ABOUT FERRARI’S 2027 CAR
Despite the difficulties, Hamilton has made it clear that his attention is increasingly focused on building a stronger Ferrari for next season.
Following the United States Grand Prix, he described the remaining five rounds as being similar to test races, explaining that the team must use the opportunities to understand what worked during 2026 and what needs to change.
Hamilton said he wants Ferrari to retain the positive characteristics of its current chassis while improving the areas that have restricted its performance.
He also highlighted the importance of developing a wider operating window. In simple terms, Ferrari needs a car that remains competitive across a broader range of conditions rather than one that only performs well when everything comes together perfectly.
That could be particularly important for Hamilton, who has experienced difficulties finding consistent performance from the Ferrari package throughout the season.
ENGINE PERFORMANCE IS HAMILTON’S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY
Hamilton was particularly direct when discussing Ferrari’s power unit.
He believes the gap between Ferrari and its leading rivals has been significant enough to affect the team’s championship ambitions.
The seven-time champion suggested that if Ferrari could match the engine performance of Mercedes and Red Bull, the team would have been fighting for the championship this season.
He also praised the work being carried out at Maranello, expressing confidence that engineers are working hard to close the gap.
However, improving engine performance while maintaining reliability is not a straightforward task. Ferrari must find additional performance without introducing new weaknesses that could create further problems during races.
Hamilton’s comments suggest he wants the team to approach the 2027 project with a clear priority: a more competitive power unit supported by a chassis capable of delivering consistent performance.
FERRARI’S CHAMPIONSHIP POSITION ADDS TO THE PRESSURE
There is still something to fight for during the remainder of the 2026 season.
Ferrari are currently second in the Constructors’ Championship with 474 points, according to the standings provided, while Mercedes lead with 607 points. Red Bull sit third on 355.
Holding second place would represent an important achievement for Ferrari, particularly with the team trying to rebuild its competitiveness and establish a stronger foundation for the next regulations cycle.
However, the gap to Mercedes demonstrates how much work remains.
Hamilton and Leclerc must continue delivering points while Ferrari balances its immediate championship objectives with the development demands of next season.
MEXICO BREAKDOWN CREATES ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR HAMILTON
Hamilton’s FP2 stoppage is not the result Ferrari wanted, especially after dedicating so much of the weekend to collecting development information.
The team will need to investigate the power-related issue, establish whether any components require attention and ensure the car is ready for the remaining sessions.
For Hamilton, the priority will be recovering the lost track time and extracting as much information as possible before Sunday’s race.
His message has been consistent: Ferrari must learn from the difficulties of 2026 and return stronger in 2027.
But with another mechanical interruption arriving during a crucial development phase, the pressure on Maranello to deliver meaningful improvements is only increasing.
