Ferrari tempers hopes for the F1 Mexico GP, even after a strong performance on Friday.

Vasseur remarked on Friday: “I don't need to be either confident or not. We need to focus on our work and aim to achieve the best results for tomorrow.

“The conditions are extremely challenging, [more than] we anticipated due to the altitude. It poses a challenge for us and for others as well. We have a significant amount of work to tackle tonight.

“The surface is incredibly bumpy, particularly before Turn 1. It's bordering on dangerous. We’ll need to make adjustments tonight.

“Overall, I believe it was a solid start to the weekend, but there’s still a considerable journey ahead.”

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

The Frenchman's remarks were informed by last week's experience, where Ferrari dominated practice sessions in Austin but ended up qualifying fourth and fifth, finishing second and fourth in the race.

Leclerc pointed out that Ferrari faced challenges with the evolution of the track, while Hamilton attributed his Q3 struggles to tire issues, leading Vasseur to be cautious about a repeat of that scenario this weekend.

The low-grip circuit in Mexico is well-known for its track evolution, and with Mercedes leading the pack – alongside a revitalized Red Bull – securing pole position is not guaranteed for Ferrari.

“Everyone will make improvements; everyone will refine their setups considering the altitude,” Vasseur added.

“It’s indeed a completely different experience compared to what we've faced before, and for the drivers to adapt to this level of downforce in Mexico is a challenge.

“They’ve been accustomed to using the largest wing of the season. The difference from last year is significantly smaller in Monza than it is in Monaco or Mexico, making it an even greater challenge for them.”

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

However, this is still viewed as a prime opportunity for the Italian team to achieve its third victory of the 2026 season, following Hamilton's win in Barcelona and Leclerc's triumph at Silverstone.

This is attributed to Mexico City's high altitude, which forces the turbo to work harder, yet the SF-26’s smaller turbo should minimize lag.

This is likely why Mercedes driver George Russell identified Ferrari as the favorite before the weekend, although Hamilton challenged that assertion after FP2.

“I don’t fully agree with the turbo aspect,” stated the seven-time world champion. “If you compare the speeds of Mercedes and Red Bull, they’re still significantly faster at the end of the straights, just like they are in every race.

“The turbo isn’t providing an edge. They’re still pulling ahead much more at the end of the straights.

“I believe we’re still losing a couple of tenths. But the car is performing well. Our car is responding nicely.”