Scuderia Ferrari faced a challenging weekend at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix, with both drivers struggling to match the pace of their main rivals. Team Principal Frederic Vasseur provided insight into the factors behind the team's difficulties, highlighting that the core issue was a lack of pace rather than strategy.
Ferrari’s drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, ran a three-stop strategy in an attempt to compensate for their pace deficit. Despite these efforts, Hamilton finished fifth and Leclerc eighth, both grappling with tyre degradation under the hot conditions at the Red Bull Ring. Vasseur pointed out that a poor Friday session contributed to the team's overall struggles during the race weekend.
Compared to McLaren, Ferrari’s pace was relatively close, but they remained off the pace of Mercedes and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Racing. Both Ferrari drivers pushed hard in the early laps to keep up with their rivals, which unfortunately accelerated tyre wear and further impacted their race pace. Leclerc’s confidence was evident through his second-place qualifying, but overheating and tyre degradation hampered his performance during the race.
Vasseur emphasized that the team’s strategy was not the main problem, but rather the underlying pace deficit. The decision to run three pit stops was a calculated risk to manage tyre wear and maintain competitiveness despite the speed gap. The hot track conditions at the Austrian Grand Prix intensified the challenge, making tyre management a critical factor for all teams.
Looking ahead, Ferrari intends to analyze the lessons from Austria and refocus their efforts as they prepare for the British Grand Prix. The team aims to address the pace issues that limited their performance and improve their competitiveness against Mercedes and Red Bull Racing.
While the Austrian weekend presented difficulties, the comments from Vasseur underline the importance of pace and tyre management in the current Formula 1® season. Ferrari’s approach reflects a pragmatic assessment of their situation, with a clear focus on learning and adapting for upcoming races.
