The Austrian Grand Prix started with immediate drama for Ferrari, as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc went wheel-to-wheel on the opening lap at the Red Bull Ring. With George Russell making a clean getaway from pole position, the attention quickly shifted to the two Ferrari drivers behind him, both looking for a way to attack the Mercedes before the race settled into rhythm.
Russell launched well and held the lead into the first corner, preventing Leclerc from applying serious pressure into Turn 1. The Monegasque driver slotted in behind the Mercedes, but he was not ready to give up the fight. As the pack climbed toward the next braking zone, Leclerc tried to position himself for a move around the outside of Russell at Turn 2, hoping to use Ferrari’s strong traction and early-lap grip to challenge for the lead.
The move, however, did not quite come together. Russell defended the position cleanly, and the Monegasque’s attempt to attack the outside line left him slightly exposed on the following run. That was all Hamilton needed.
Hamilton seizes the opportunity against Leclerc
Starting directly behind his Ferrari teammate, Hamilton reacted instantly. As Charles Leclerc focused on Russell ahead, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion positioned his SF-26 perfectly and carried strong momentum into Turn 3. With confidence under braking and enough grip on the outside line, the Briton swept around the 28-year-old to take second place before the end of the opening lap.
It was a decisive and highly committed move from Hamilton, who showed exactly why experience can be so important in the first few corners of a Grand Prix. Instead of waiting for the race to develop, he attacked immediately and used the brief moment of vulnerability created by Charles Leclerc’s failed move on Russell.
For Ferrari, the overtake created a fascinating internal dynamic. Leclerc had started on the front row and looked set to lead the Scuderia’s charge against Mercedes, but Hamilton’s bold Turn 3 move instantly changed the order, putting the British driver into second place behind Russell.
Ferrari’s race begins with a teammate duel
Russell retains his lead!
Here is how the race start unfolded in Austria 😮💨#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/7Pnk04JwHW
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 28, 2026
After the opening exchanges, the order at the front became Russell from Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, with Ferrari still occupying two podium positions but now with Hamilton leading the team’s challenge. The lap 1 battle underlined how fine the margins can be at the Red Bull Ring, where the short run between corners and the heavy braking zones create constant opportunities for attack and defence.
Charles Leclerc’s attempt on George Russell was ambitious but understandable. Ferrari knew that track position against Mercedes could prove crucial, especially with tyre degradation and strategy expected to play a major role later in the race. However, attacking the race leader also created the opening for the seven-time world champion, who read the situation perfectly.
The early Ferrari duel added another layer of intrigue to the Austrian GP. With both drivers fighting at the front and the SF-26 showing strong pace after Ferrari’s overnight turnaround, team management could become just as important as outright speed. Hamilton’s lap 1 pass gave him the first advantage within the Scuderia garage, but with 71 laps ahead, the battle between the two Ferrari drivers was only just beginning.
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