Ferrari left the Austrian Grand Prix with far more questions than answers, and one of the biggest talking points was once again the contrasting performances of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. While the Scuderia struggled to challenge Mercedes and Red Bull despite introducing its latest power unit upgrade, the gap between its two drivers became impossible to ignore.
Lewis Hamilton continued to extract the maximum from the SF-26, battling aggressively with Max Verstappen and eventually securing fifth place after another impressive drive. Charles Leclerc, by contrast, endured another frustrating afternoon, slipping backwards through the field before crossing the line in eighth after being overtaken by Isack Hadjar.
The result further reinforced a trend that has developed over recent races. Lewis Hamilton has steadily built momentum since his breakthrough victory in Barcelona, while Charles Leclerc has struggled to unlock the same level of performance under Formula 1’s 2026 regulations. The difference is becoming increasingly evident not only in the Drivers’ Championship standings, but also in the way each driver is extracting pace from Ferrari’s current package.
David Coulthard sees something new in Charles Leclerc’s performances
Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard believes the Austrian Grand Prix highlighted an unfamiliar side of Charles Leclerc. Throughout his Ferrari career, the Monegasque has earned a reputation for exceptional qualifying speed and consistently strong race performances, even when driving difficult machinery. While mistakes occasionally appeared as a consequence of pushing beyond the limit, sustained dips in form have rarely been part of his profile.
According to David Coulthard, that appears to have changed this season.
Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, the former Grand Prix winner suggested that Lewis Hamilton has become increasingly influential in directing Ferrari’s race strategy from inside the cockpit. He pointed to the Austrian Grand Prix as an example, explaining that the Briton backed a three-stop strategy despite the team’s initial preference for two stops, believing it offered the strongest chance of maximizing the result.
David Coulthard contrasted that with Charles Leclerc’s race, arguing that the Monegasque appeared less decisive and ultimately became trapped in what he described as a strategic “no man’s land,” preventing him from extracting the maximum from the SF-26.
Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence changes Ferrari’s internal picture
Despite Ferrari’s disappointing overall result in Austria, David Coulthard believes there are still positives for the team. In his assessment, the Scuderia has returned to fighting closer to the front following its recent upgrades, even if the Red Bull Ring exposed ongoing weaknesses in tyre degradation, straight-line performance and race execution.
The greater concern, however, is the contrast between Ferrari’s two drivers. David Coulthard admitted that, based purely on the evidence available this season, he believes Formula 1 fans are witnessing Charles Leclerc at his least convincing level since joining the championship.
He explained that the 28-year-old has always been known as an exceptionally fast and naturally gifted driver, whose occasional qualifying crashes were usually the consequence of relentlessly chasing the absolute limit. Outside of those isolated moments, he regarded Charles Leclerc as one of the sport’s most consistently competitive performers. For that reason, David Coulthard admitted he could not recall another period in which the Ferrari driver had looked so far below his usual standard.
Pressure continues to build inside Ferrari
The Austrian Grand Prix has intensified the debate surrounding Ferrari’s internal balance. Lewis Hamilton now holds a comfortable advantage over Charles Leclerc in the championship and has increasingly become the driver setting the benchmark for the team on both race pace and technical direction.
Former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok has also warned that the Monegasque driver must quickly regain control of his season before the momentum inside Ferrari shifts even further toward his teammate. With Lewis Hamilton continuing to grow in confidence and influence after his move to Maranello, many observers now believe the seven-time World Champion has established himself as Ferrari’s primary reference driver.
Silverstone could therefore prove to be another pivotal weekend. Not only will Ferrari attempt to rebound from its disappointing Austrian Grand Prix, but Charles Leclerc will also be looking to halt a difficult run of form and demonstrate that he can once again match the level that has made him one of Formula 1’s fastest drivers over the past several seasons.
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