During the opening day of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton delivered a strong critique of Ferrari’s latest SF-25 floor upgrade, questioning its influence on the team’s competitiveness. The British driver’s performance fell short of expectations, finishing tenth in practice and struggling to match the pace set by the frontrunners.
Details of Hamilton’s Struggles at the Red Bull Ring
Hamilton’s difficulties were compounded by a gearbox issue during the first practice session, which forced a rapid gearbox replacement by the Mercedes team. Despite this setback, he managed to return for the second practice, though he remained nearly a second behind the leaders. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also experienced challenges, trailing by six-tenths of a second, highlighting that the Italian team’s recent upgrades had not closed the gap as hoped.
Reflecting on the situation, Hamilton stated,
“A huge amount of work went on to bring the floor, but as you can see, it has not necessarily changed our competitiveness.”
—Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 Driver
Evaluating Team Efforts Amid Performance Gaps
The Mercedes driver praised his team’s quick response to the gearbox problem, which allowed him to resume running and gather valuable data. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the clear need for further development and analysis to improve the car’s pace, especially as the competition within the top 10 drivers remains fierce.
Hamilton remains hopeful that ongoing adjustments can reduce the deficit in upcoming events. He emphasized the team‘s commitment to refining the car’s setup, expressing confidence in their ability to enhance performance before the next race.
Implications for Ferrari and the F1 Championship Battle
Hamilton’s candid comments on Ferrari’s upgrades have sparked a significant discussion within the Formula 1 community about the Italian team’s current standing and potential in the championship. With rivals like Lando Norris making their own strategic changes and Alpine navigating internal turmoil under Otmar Szafnauer, the pressure intensifies.
As the Austrian Grand Prix weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on Ferrari to determine whether they can address these shortcomings and re-establish themselves as serious contenders in the season’s ongoing battle for supremacy.