Thursday at Spielberg offered two different but complementary snapshots of Ferrari. On one side is Lewis Hamilton, arriving in Austria with the excitement of his Barcelona victory still fresh but with the composure to keep expectations firmly under control. On the other is Charles Leclerc, eager to finally enjoy a clean weekend after three Grands Prix disrupted by setbacks. Bringing both stories together is Ferrari’s first power unit upgrade of the season, a long-awaited and symbolic development that became the common thread running through both drivers’ comments ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton: emotion, hard work and a clear direction
Lewis Hamilton revealed that after returning home from Barcelona, he spent hours watching videos sent to him by Ferrari supporters. “When I got home I watched these incredible videos sent by my fans, and I spent hours reposting everything I saw. It was very emotional.”
However, the celebrations did not last long, as his attention quickly shifted back to work. “Then you go back to square one and start working hard again. It took a couple of days to reset and get my focus back.”
For the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, Ferrari’s new power unit represents the first step on a journey that he believes is becoming increasingly clear. “It’s a small step, but we’ll take it, because it’s all about putting one foot in front of the other.”
When reminded that less than a month ago some were talking about retirement while today others are discussing a possible world title challenge, Lewis Hamilton dismissed the speculation with his usual calm approach. “It’s not true. It’s been crazy to see such a complete turnaround, but I don’t pay much attention to it. I know what I have to do.”
He adopted exactly the same pragmatic mindset when speaking about Ferrari’s championship ambitions. “We’re not coming into this weekend thinking about the championship. We’re thinking about delivering the best performance we possibly can.” Hamilton also delivered what sounded like a personal philosophy for achieving success: “There are no shortcuts to success.”
Asked whether Ferrari can genuinely fight for the Formula 1 title this season, Lewis Hamilton responded with measured optimism. “The opportunity is there, but one thing is having the opportunity and another is motivating the team and continuing to develop.”
He then summed up Ferrari’s current mindset with a phrase that perfectly captures the atmosphere inside Maranello. “This year we have a North Star. Everyone is putting in that little bit of extra effort, even more than they ever have before, and I think we’re starting to see the results.”
Speaking specifically about the upgraded power unit, Lewis Hamilton remained realistic while acknowledging the significance of the development. “It’s a step forward. It doesn’t close the entire gap, but it’s still progress, and I’m really proud of it.” Looking ahead to the challenge posed by Ferrari’s rivals, he concluded: “Mercedes remains the team to beat. We have a real battle ahead of us, but I don’t think it’s impossible.”
Charles Leclerc: finding consistency to turn potential into results
Charles Leclerc heads to the Austrian Grand Prix in a very different frame of mind, one inevitably shaped by the frustration of the last three race weekends. “I’m really looking forward to having a weekend without any setbacks.”
The recent difficulties have affected both his confidence behind the wheel and his points tally. “Montreal and Monaco were difficult because the right feeling just wasn’t there.” Barcelona, however, restored that confidence, even if a technical issue ultimately prevented him from converting his pace into the result he deserved. “Over the last two weekends we haven’t scored points on Sunday because of mechanical problems, so I just hope we can get back to where we should be.”
Like his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc sees the new power unit as an encouraging signal, even if he is not expecting an immediate transformation. “The team has worked incredibly hard on these new parts, so I’m looking forward to getting back on the podium, or maybe even achieving something more.”
When asked to describe the current characteristics of the SF-26, the Monegasque driver answered with complete honesty. “When things go well, they go really, really well. When they go badly, they go really, really badly.” Even so, Barcelona gave him renewed confidence. “I’ve got the feeling back, and that’s a positive thing. It makes me optimistic for the rest of the season.”
Charles Leclerc also adopted a cautious approach when discussing the impact of Ferrari’s upgraded engine. “How much of a difference it will make is difficult to say, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.” At the same time, he reminded everyone that there is still significant work to do before Ferrari can match the benchmark. “Mercedes has a huge advantage, so this isn’t the only thing we need.”
His final thought was directed at everyone working back in Maranello. “I hope the team is rewarded, just like in Barcelona, with another victory on Sunday.”
Spielberg set to provide the first real verdict
Ferrari arrives at the Austrian Grand Prix with a long-awaited power unit upgrade, renewed confidence and two drivers approaching the same challenge from different perspectives. Lewis Hamilton is enjoying the momentum created by his Barcelona victory without allowing emotions to cloud his focus, while Charles Leclerc is simply hoping for a straightforward weekend that finally allows him to turn the SF-26’s potential into the results it has shown it can deliver.
Both Ferrari drivers agree that the upgraded power unit is an important step forward rather than a complete solution. It is another key piece in the team’s effort to reduce the gap to Mercedes, but there is still more work ahead before Ferrari can consistently fight at the front. Spielberg will therefore provide the first meaningful indication of just how much Ferrari’s latest engine upgrade has improved the SF-26 and whether it can bring the Scuderia one step closer to its rivals.
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