Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull set for four-way Austrian GP battle as Matteo Bobbi sees no clear favourite
The opening Formula 1 practice session at the Red Bull Ring has done little to establish a definitive pecking order ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, but it has reinforced one key message: the fight for pole position and race victory could involve all four of the championship’s leading teams. Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sport F1 analyst Matteo Bobbi believes Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull all demonstrated encouraging pace during Friday’s opening session, making this one of the most unpredictable weekends of the 2026 season so far.
With teams following different fuel loads, engine modes and run plans, the FP1 timesheets offered only a partial picture of the true competitive order. Ferrari, which continued evaluating its latest upgrades while Lewis Hamilton and reserve driver Dino Beganovic shared development duties, remained one of the most closely watched teams. At the same time, Charles Leclerc is expected to rejoin the action for the remainder of the weekend, adding another important reference point to Ferrari’s preparations.
Friday data leaves the competitive picture wide open
Matteo Bobbi stressed that it would be premature to draw firm conclusions after only one practice session, explaining that the available telemetry and GPS data suggested that several teams were still hiding their true performance. According to the Italian analyst, comparisons between Ferrari and Mercedes highlighted just how many variables remained in play, including different Power Unit settings, fuel loads and battery deployment strategies.
From his perspective, the long-run simulations provided the most valuable indication of the weekend’s competitive balance. Matteo Bobbi noted that McLaren appeared particularly convincing over extended stints, an area where teams typically operate under more comparable conditions. However, he also pointed out that Mercedes delivered similarly competitive race pace, making it extremely difficult to separate the two outfits based on Friday’s data alone.
The close performance levels suggested that qualifying could become one of the tightest sessions of the season, with tiny margins potentially deciding the front rows. Ferrari’s encouraging baseline, combined with the expected return of Charles Leclerc alongside Lewis Hamilton, could place the Scuderia firmly in contention if the team successfully unlocks additional pace during the remaining practice sessions.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could benefit from Ferrari’s hidden potential
Although Ferrari did not top the timing screens, there were several signs that the Italian team may still have untapped performance in reserve. As has happened on previous race weekends this season, Ferrari appeared to be running a conservative Friday programme focused on gathering aerodynamic and mechanical data rather than chasing headline lap times.
Should the Maranello squad find the expected improvements overnight, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could emerge as genuine contenders for pole position and the race win, particularly if Ferrari’s race pace proves as competitive as many observers anticipate. With tyre degradation expected to play an important role around the Red Bull Ring, race management and long-run consistency may ultimately prove more valuable than outright one-lap speed.
Max Verstappen’s radio messages may have painted a misleading picture
Matteo Bobbi also warned against reading too much into Max Verstappen’s frustrated radio communications during FP1. While the Dutch driver repeatedly reported issues with the balance of his Red Bull, the overall performance data suggested that the reigning champion remained comfortably within striking distance of the fastest teams.
The Sky Sport F1 analyst explained that anyone listening only to the radio exchanges could have assumed Max Verstappen was more than a second off the pace. Instead, the timing screens revealed that the gap was closer to two tenths of a second, indicating that Red Bull’s package still possesses considerable potential once the setup is refined.
In Matteo Bobbi’s assessment, Red Bull remains firmly in the battle despite the apparent concerns expressed over team radio. Combined with the impressive pace shown by McLaren, the consistency displayed by Mercedes and Ferrari’s encouraging early data, the Austrian Grand Prix is shaping up to deliver one of the closest and most competitive qualifying sessions of the Formula 1 season, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc expected to play major roles in the fight at the front.
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