Lewis Hamilton laments severe tire degradation in post-race Austrian GP radio message. Lewis Hamilton urges Ferrari to keep pushing after challenging Austrian GP.

Lewis Hamilton admits Austrian GP was “really tough” after Ferrari finishes P5

Lewis Hamilton delivered a calm but honest assessment over Ferrari team radio after finishing fifth in the Austrian Grand Prix, admitting that the race had been one of the more demanding afternoons of his season so far.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion had started the race in a strong position for the Scuderia, but Ferrari was unable to convert its promising qualifying performance into the podium result it had hoped for. Tyre degradation quickly became one of the main factors of the race, with Lewis Hamilton making it clear after the chequered flag that the level of wear had been as severe as he expected.

After crossing the line in P5, race engineer Carlo Santi told him: “And P5 Lewis, very well managed, was a tough race.”

Hamilton replied: “That was a tough race guys, that was a really tough race. I told you the deg was going to be bad. But great job in the pit stops, it’s not the result we wanted but… let’s just keep pushing, bag these points and try and come back stronger.”

Carlo Santi then answered simply: “Thank you Lewis.”

Hamilton praises Ferrari pit stops despite difficult race

Although the final result fell short of Ferrari’s expectations, Hamilton made sure to highlight the positive work done by the Maranello team during the race. His reference to the pit stops suggests that Ferrari executed strongly operationally, even if the overall pace and tyre management were not enough to fight higher up the order.

The Austrian Grand Prix had always looked set to be a demanding race for the tyres, with high temperatures and the aggressive Red Bull Ring surface placing significant stress on the cars. For Ferrari, the challenge was not simply about outright speed, but about keeping the tyres alive across the stints while still defending and attacking against Mercedes and Red Bull.

Hamilton’s message also reflected his experience. Rather than focusing only on the disappointment of missing out on a stronger result, he underlined the importance of scoring points and continuing to build momentum. In a long Formula 1 season, difficult races can still prove valuable if the team limits the damage and learns from the weaknesses exposed.

Ferrari leaves Austria with lessons to learn

For Ferrari, Hamilton’s P5 finish confirms that there is still work to do, especially when tyre degradation becomes a decisive factor. The SF-26 has shown clear progress in qualifying and through certain cornering sections, but race execution and long-run consistency remain crucial if the team wants to challenge regularly for victories.

The Briton’s post-race radio summed up the mood perfectly: frustration at a missed opportunity, appreciation for the team’s work, and determination to respond. Ferrari may not have achieved the result it wanted in Austria, but the focus now shifts to understanding why the degradation was so costly and how to come back stronger at the next round.