Just like that, the optimism has faded. For the past two weeks, Ferrari fans had allowed themselves to dream of a genuine Formula 1 title challenge. There were discussions about championship scenarios, race strategies and the promise that Ferrari’s upgraded power unit, helped by its first ADUO development token, would further reduce the gap to Mercedes at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Perhaps the optimism became slightly excessive, but it was understandable after Ferrari’s impressive victory in Barcelona, achieved on one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.
Austria, however, brought everyone back to reality.
Ferrari’s hopes disappear at the Red Bull Ring
Mercedes dominated the weekend in the Styrian hills, with George Russell converting pole position into victory and relaunching his championship campaign. Ferrari, meanwhile, endured one of its most disappointing performances of the season.
Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in fifth place, finishing 26.3 seconds behind the winner, while Charles Leclerc could manage only eighth, over 45 seconds adrift. To make matters worse, Ferrari found itself beaten not only by Mercedes, but also by Red Bull and McLaren.
What happened to the SF-26 remains difficult to explain. Just one week earlier in Barcelona, Ferrari appeared competitive through every type of corner, yet at the Red Bull Ring the car struggled badly for race pace and lacked competitiveness on both the medium and hard Pirelli compounds. During the crucial phases of the Grand Prix, Ferrari was losing around one second per lap to both Mercedes and Red Bull — an enormous deficit at this level.
Engine concerns continue to grow
Was the power unit entirely responsible? Fred Vasseur stopped short of placing all the blame on the engine, but the comments from both drivers clearly suggested that Ferrari’s updated power unit still requires significant improvement, even if it is not the only weakness affecting the car.
The fact that Ferrari now appears to trail Red Bull’s relatively new power unit package is particularly worrying given Maranello’s long-standing reputation for engine excellence. Although the first ADUO upgrade represents a step forward, further gains are expected only much later in the season.
That reality makes Ferrari’s long-term outlook increasingly challenging.
Lewis Hamilton shines while Charles Leclerc searches for answers
Despite Ferrari’s disappointing afternoon, one highlight stood out. Lewis Hamilton produced one of the most entertaining battles of the race as he fought wheel-to-wheel with Max Verstappen. Regardless of the final result, Hamilton’s aggressive racing spirit provided one of Ferrari’s few positives in Austria.
Charles Leclerc’s afternoon was a completely different story. From the opening lap, the Monegasque struggled for pace and quickly slipped backwards through the field. He also endured the frustration of being overtaken twice by his own teammate, something that is never easy for a driver of his calibre to accept.
This version of Charles Leclerc bears little resemblance to the confident, relaxed and consistently competitive driver seen throughout much of 2025. His sudden loss of form raises uncomfortable questions, with no obvious explanation currently available.
Attention turns to Silverstone
Overall, Ferrari leaves Austria with more questions than answers. The team has lost momentum after Barcelona, lacks the consistency needed to challenge across different circuit layouts, and now faces increasing doubts about its championship ambitions.
Lewis Hamilton delivered perhaps the clearest assessment after the chequered flag when he admitted, “The gap is huge. I don’t know whether it can be recovered within a single season.” Those words inevitably cool expectations for the remainder of 2026 and suggest that Ferrari’s biggest opportunity may lie further down the road.
Meanwhile, Mercedes looked firmly back in control. George Russell drove a flawless race, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli recovered brilliantly after an untidy opening lap to produce outstanding pace and strengthen his championship lead. Max Verstappen also reminded everyone of his extraordinary talent, delivering another spectacular performance after missing out on pole position because of Saturday’s technical issue.
Fortunately, there is little time to dwell on Austria. Formula 1 now heads straight to Silverstone, the birthplace of the World Championship and the circuit where Ferrari claimed its very first Formula 1 victory back in 1951. It is another historic venue, and one Ferrari will hope can deliver a much stronger response despite Lewis Hamilton’s cautious assessment.
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