Ferrari heads to the Austrian Grand Prix carrying a wave of momentum after Lewis Hamilton secured a landmark victory for the Scuderia in Barcelona. The success marked a major turning point in Ferrari’s 2026 campaign and reinforced the growing belief that the Maranello-based team has become a genuine force in the fight for victories and championships.
While the Red Bull Ring presents a very different challenge from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella is not expecting a dramatic shift in the competitive order. In fact, the Italian engineer believes Ferrari could continue to enjoy a significant advantage in one of the most important areas of car performance.
After several rounds of steady development, Ferrari’s SF-26 appears to have evolved into one of the most complete packages on the grid. The recent upgrades introduced by the team have improved balance, cornering performance and overall consistency, helping both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc extract more performance from the car.
Ferrari expected to remain strongest through the corners
Looking ahead to the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Andrea Stella analyzed the different demands of the Red Bull Ring compared to Barcelona. Although Austria features shorter lap times, heavy braking zones and a greater emphasis on traction, he believes the Maranello team’s greatest strength will remain highly relevant.
According to Andrea Stella, the Austrian circuit places a premium on stability under braking and responsiveness during corner entry. However, despite the differences between the two venues, he expects Ferrari to maintain its advantage when it comes to carrying speed through corners.
The McLaren boss suggested that Ferrari currently possesses the strongest cornering package on the grid. That advantage has become increasingly evident in recent races, where the SF-26 has demonstrated exceptional performance through medium- and high-speed turns.
For Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, this characteristic could prove particularly valuable at the Red Bull Ring, where every fraction of a second matters and maintaining momentum through the circuit’s flowing sections can make a significant difference over a qualifying lap or race stint.
Mercedes still seen as qualifying specialists
Although Ferrari may have established itself as the reference point in cornering performance, Andrea Stella believes Mercedes remains a major threat in qualifying conditions.
The McLaren chief indicated that Mercedes currently appears to have one of the most effective combinations of chassis efficiency and power unit performance over a single lap. As a result, the Silver Arrows could once again be extremely competitive when it comes to securing strong grid positions.
With qualifying often playing a decisive role at the Red Bull Ring, the Italian side will need Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to maximize every opportunity if they are to stay ahead of their rivals.
Mercedes has consistently demonstrated impressive one-lap pace throughout the season, and Andrea Stella expects that trend to continue as the championship battle intensifies.
McLaren focused on its own development path
Despite the increasing competitiveness among Formula 1’s leading teams, Andrea Stella emphasized that McLaren remains focused primarily on its own progress rather than becoming obsessed with direct comparisons to Ferrari or Mercedes.
The Italian explained that McLaren’s philosophy is centered on continuous improvement. Instead of reacting to every change in the pecking order, the team is concentrating on developing its car and extracting more performance race after race. Andrea Stella indicated that the objective is to continue strengthening the package throughout the season and allow results to follow naturally. Once on track, McLaren will adapt its strategy according to the circumstances presented by each weekend.
This approach has helped keep McLaren firmly in contention, even as Ferrari’s recent resurgence has captured much of the attention across the Formula 1 paddock.
Tyre degradation could be the decisive factor
One area Andrea Stella highlighted as particularly important for the Austrian Grand Prix is tyre management. With warm weather expected and the potential for significant tyre degradation, race pace could ultimately prove more important than outright qualifying speed.
The McLaren boss suggested that effective tyre usage will be crucial throughout the weekend, especially if track temperatures rise as forecast. Teams capable of preserving tyre performance over longer stints may gain a strategic advantage during the race. This is another area where Ferrari has shown encouraging progress in recent rounds. Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Spain was built not only on outright speed but also on Ferrari’s ability to manage tyres effectively across different phases of the race.
Charles Leclerc has also benefited from the improvements made to the SF-26, with the Monegasque driver regularly demonstrating strong long-run pace and greater consistency throughout race weekends.
As Formula 1 arrives in Austria, the battle between Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren appears closer than ever. Yet if Andrea Stella’s assessment proves accurate, Ferrari may once again enter the weekend with a critical advantage.
Following Lewis Hamilton’s breakthrough triumph in Barcelona and the steady development of the SF-26, Ferrari travels to the Red Bull Ring with genuine confidence. Far from being a one-off success, the Spanish Grand Prix victory may have been further evidence that the Scuderia has established itself as one of the leading forces in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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