The victory in Barcelona had reignited the enthusiasm of Ferrari fans. However, in just one week, the Austrian Grand Prix brought everyone back down to earth. The SF-26 suddenly appeared fragile, slow on the straights, and unable to keep pace with Mercedes and Red Bull.
While Lewis Hamilton’s success in Spain had fueled title dreams, Spielberg showed a very different reality: Ferrari not only remained out of the fight for the win, but actually looked like the fourth-fastest team on track.
The real alarm isn’t just tires: it’s the power unit
In the new episode of “A Ruote Ferme,” we analyzed the reason behind the Ferrari collapse. According to our analysis, the main problem does not just concern tire degradation, but also the management of the power unit and electrical energy.
On the Austrian circuit, characterized by high altitude and long acceleration stretches, the SF-26 highlighted clear limitations:
- speed loss in the final sector;
- battery depleted before the finish line;
- difficulties in energy management;
- performance deficit compared to Mercedes and Red Bull.
This is precisely the point that causes the most concern ahead of the upcoming races.
Hamilton limits the damage, Leclerc continues to suffer
While Lewis Hamilton managed to at least limit the damage thanks to his experience and the consistency shown in recent races, Charles Leclerc continues to go through a very complicated phase.
Starting from the front row, the Monegasque driver was never really in contention for the podium, confirming a trend that is starting to become worrying. The feeling is that Hamilton is managing to adapt better to the characteristics of the SF-26, while Leclerc continues to struggle to find the right balance.
Mercedes reopens the world championship
George Russell’s victory also changes the balance of the championship. Mercedes continues to be the most consistent car of the season and, race after race, is building a significant lead in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
Even Max Verstappen, thanks to the latest Red Bull updates, has returned to being an absolute protagonist. Ferrari, meanwhile, risks losing even more ground.
Silverstone could become a decisive test
The next stage of the World Championship will be Silverstone. It is a track full of fast corners with few major braking zones, where energy management will become even more delicate. If the problem with the SF-26 is truly what emerged in Austria, the British GP could turn into another extremely difficult weekend for the Prancing Horse.
Conversely, Mercedes starts as the heavy favorite, while Red Bull seems to have regained competitiveness thanks to their latest developments.
Ferrari at a crossroads
Austria could represent much more than just a bad race. After the illusion of Barcelona, Ferrari is called upon to prove that the collapse in Spielberg was just an isolated incident.
Otherwise, the risk is witnessing yet another season in which an isolated victory fuels enthusiasm, only to then leave room for new questions about the SF-26’s technical project. For the Prancing Horse, Silverstone will serve as an early verdict.
The Austrian GP exposed significant power unit and energy management issues for Ferrari, leaving the team with urgent questions to answer before the British Grand Prix. The upcoming race at Silverstone will be a critical test to determine if the SF-26’s performance drop in Austria was a track-specific anomaly or a sign of deeper technical struggles that could derail their championship ambitions.
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