Lewis Hamilton has called on Ferrari to carry out a thorough internal investigation following the Austrian Grand Prix after identifying what he believes could be one of the SF-26’s most significant technical limitations.
According to the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, Ferrari appears to be losing efficiency in the way it deploys electrical energy on the straights, a weakness that could explain why the Scuderia struggled to match the pace of rivals during key phases of the race at the Red Bull Ring.
Interestingly, Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli also noticed unusual behaviour from the Ferrari cars while battling on track.
“At certain moments they were much slower than expected. I even came close to making contact with Leclerc because of the difference in speed,” Antonelli explained after the race.
Lewis Hamilton believes the issue goes beyond simply lacking engine power and instead points to a more complex technical problem.
“We need to understand why our car loses performance on the straights while the Mercedes continues to deliver its power consistently. We need a thorough analysis, but I don’t think we’ll find the solution anytime soon,” the Briton said.
The British driver suggested that Ferrari’s difficulties may not be related to the power unit itself, but rather to the way the hybrid system manages and deploys its available electrical energy. If that proves to be the case, solving the issue could require considerably more time than introducing a straightforward engine upgrade.
With Silverstone now approaching, understanding the root cause of the problem has become an increasingly urgent priority for Ferrari. On one of the fastest circuits of the Formula 1 calendar, where efficient energy deployment plays a crucial role over long flat-out sections, addressing this weakness could be essential if the Scuderia hopes to challenge Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren at the front of the field.
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