Mercedes hits Austria battling growing reliability concerns. Battery failures have plagued Kimi Antonelli and George Russell; a "proper cure" is unlikely for the Red Bull Ring. This has tightened the championship, allowing Lewis Hamilton to close within 41 points after his breakthrough Ferrari win in Barcelona.
Hamilton’s recent surge, three straight podiums, raises questions of sustainability. He credits a better car and new race engineer, though Austria has historically been less favorable. Teammate Charles Leclerc needs a reset after recent struggles; Spielberg, a track he won in 2022, offers his best chance to regain momentum.
McLaren, dominant last year, is now third and behind Ferrari. Lando Norris finished 23.7 seconds behind Hamilton at Barcelona. Austria will reveal if Mercedes can fix its issues, Hamilton's charge is sustainable, and Leclerc can ignite his season.
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