Ferrari's new engine upgrade proved "bafflingly underwhelming" at the Austrian Grand Prix, as both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc fell backward after strong qualifying. Despite starting second and third, both drivers were forced into a three-stop strategy, chewing through tires while top rivals managed two.
Team Principal Fred Vasseur admitted Ferrari likely focused too much on battling Mercedes early, pushing too hard and reacting aggressively with strategy when their underlying pace wasn't there. Leclerc struggled significantly with a lack of rear grip, noting the car had a strong front but "no rear" in the race, making the balance elusive. McLaren's Andrea Stella agreed it was more about a lack of pace and tire degradation than strategy. Hamilton believes the race exposed Ferrari's persistent power deficit, citing a considerable straight-line speed difference. Their initial engine upgrade isn't the full fix, as deployment falls off compared to rivals. This glaring performance gap raises serious questions for Ferrari's championship aspirations moving forward.
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