Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari is improving but expects Mercedes to set the pace in Austria
Momentum is finally beginning to shift in Ferrari’s favour after Lewis Hamilton delivered the team’s breakthrough victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Spanish Grand Prix. Confidence inside Maranello has grown considerably following recent upgrades, but Charles Leclerc believes the Austrian Grand Prix will provide a much sterner examination of the SF-26’s true potential.
Although Ferrari arrives at the Red Bull Ring encouraged by its recent gains in aerodynamic efficiency and tyre management, the Monegasque driver remains convinced that Mercedes continues to hold an important advantage on a circuit where outright engine performance and straight-line speed are expected to play a decisive role.
Charles Leclerc expects Mercedes to retain an advantage at the Red Bull Ring
Reflecting on Ferrari’s chances, Charles Leclerc explained that, while the team had shown excellent race pace in Barcelona, particularly in managing tyre degradation during high temperatures, he was not convinced that the same performance advantage would automatically carry over to Spielberg.
According to the Ferrari driver, hot weather could once again work in the team’s favour by helping preserve tyre life over long stints. However, he suggested that Mercedes should still arrive as the reference point in terms of overall competitiveness, especially given the characteristics of the Austrian circuit.
Charles Leclerc pointed out that the Red Bull Ring features several long acceleration zones where power unit performance becomes particularly important. He acknowledged that Ferrari was likely to lose time on the straights because Mercedes currently appeared to possess the stronger engine package, making the Silver Arrows the benchmark heading into the weekend.
Lewis Hamilton’s victory has strengthened Ferrari’s belief
Despite adopting a cautious approach when evaluating Ferrari’s prospects, the Monegasque admitted that Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Barcelona had provided additional motivation throughout the team.
He explained that seeing his teammate return to the top step of the podium naturally reinforced his own determination to fight for victories again. In his view, Ferrari had spent recent seasons without a car capable of consistently challenging for wins, but the progress shown by the SF-26 suggested that the Scuderia was finally moving back towards that level of competitiveness.
Charles Leclerc also highlighted his strong record at the Red Bull Ring, a circuit where he has traditionally felt comfortable and where he has previously celebrated victory. Although every Formula 1 weekend presents different challenges, he expressed confidence that the layout suits his driving style and hoped Ferrari could once again compete near the front.
At the same time, he stressed that expectations should remain realistic, reiterating his belief that Mercedes still appeared to hold a slight overall performance advantage despite Ferrari’s recent improvements.
Straight-line speed remains Ferrari’s biggest concern
Looking at the technical demands of the Austrian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc identified aerodynamic efficiency as one of the most important factors for success around the Red Bull Ring.
He explained that the combination of long straights and several heavy braking zones rewards cars capable of producing strong straight-line speed without sacrificing stability through the medium-speed corners. Achieving the right balance between low drag and sufficient downforce, he suggested, would therefore become one of Ferrari’s primary objectives throughout the weekend.
The Maranello team’s driver also reaffirmed his long-standing preference for a car with a particularly responsive front end. He indicated that the current characteristics of the SF-26 were moving in that direction, giving him greater confidence compared to previous seasons.
Modern Formula 1 cars leave far less room for setup compromises
Charles Leclerc also offered insight into how Formula 1’s current technical regulations have changed the way teams approach car setup.
He explained that compared to previous generations of cars, engineers now have significantly less flexibility when choosing aerodynamic configurations. Whereas teams could once sacrifice qualifying performance in favour of stronger race pace by adjusting downforce levels, today’s cars generally operate very close to their maximum aerodynamic load because there is little downforce available to give away.
As a result, Ferrari’s engineers are expected to focus primarily on fine-tuning mechanical balance and suspension setup rather than making major aerodynamic compromises between qualifying and the race.
Ferrari sees progress, but Austria will reveal the true picture
After introducing several successful upgrades over recent races, the Italian side travels to Austria with renewed confidence that it can continue closing the gap to the front. Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Spain demonstrated that the SF-26 is becoming increasingly competitive, while Charles Leclerc remains optimistic that further improvements are still to come.
Nevertheless, the Monegasque believes the Red Bull Ring will expose whether Ferrari has truly matched Mercedes in every performance area. Until the Scuderia can eliminate its straight-line deficit and consistently challenge on power-sensitive circuits, Charles Leclerc expects Mercedes to remain the reference team, even if Ferrari now appears considerably closer than it did only a few races ago.
Leave a Reply