Lewis Hamilton produced the best result of his brief Ferrari career in qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix, excluding Sprint events.
For the first time since leaving Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton will start on the second row of the grid in P4 alongside drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri.
His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc is directly in front of him after a fantastic session for the Scuderia.
Team principal Fred Vasseur will be delighted with his team’s progress after a tough start to the 2025 F1 season.
Vasseur is under pressure at Ferrari with expectations at the start of the season that they would be able to compete for both championships.
That already looks to be out of the equation, however, Ferrari rushed an update to the Austrian Grand Prix that has started to improve their performance.
A rear suspension update is on the cards for Ferrari as well, as they refuse to give up on this year’s car despite the changing regulations on the horizon next season.
However, Hamilton’s unique driving style means that he’s always going to suffer from one issue with the SF-25.
Photo by Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton’s driving style ‘guaranteed’ to expose Ferrari’s rear locking issue
Journalist Mark Hughes was covering the Austrian Grand Prix for The Race and Ferrari’s newest update.
Explaining Ferrari’s step forward in the Styrian hills and the progress they’re making compared to championship leaders McLaren, he said: “At half-a-second off the pace, no one was getting too excited about that.
“That said, the all-new floor (canoe section, diffuser, floor edges and vanes, ie everything) represents a very serious update and all the signs are that it is working well.
“Maybe when it is combined with the new rear suspension, the Ferrari will be back to being the second-best car on a more secure footing.
“For now, its race prospects against McLaren really would hang on it being easier on the tyres and perhaps that giving it access to a special strategy.
“Lewis Hamilton was fourth fastest, and close to at least matching Leclerc until the car’s bugbear of rear locking around here (guaranteed to be exposed by Hamilton’s late-braking style) cost him vital time.
“The Ferrari at least had a balance, and on this day, that was enough to put it ahead of Verstappen and Mercedes.
“But the McLaren’s balance was there at a much higher aerodynamic grip level.”
Lewis Hamilton already looking forward to 2026 Formula 1 season at Ferrari
Hamilton decided to join Ferrari after a dozen seasons with Mercedes to try and secure his eighth championship.
He would have been encouraged by their form at the end of last season; however, Ferrari haven’t got anywhere near that level since his arrival.
The 2026 season offers Hamilton and Leclerc a new opportunity when the rules are overhauled, as any of the 11 teams on the grid could theoretically be the pacesetters.
Ferrari have agreed to address Hamilton’s understeer issues with next year’s car, which should give him more confidence at key moments in qualifying and the race.
However, people in the paddock are concerned about Ferrari’s 2026 engine, with Mercedes and Audi potentially ahead of them in terms of development.
Hamilton will hope Ferrari continue to develop this year’s car, considering there are still 13 race weekends remaining.
All eyes are on whether Hamilton will end his run without a Formula 1 podium. If he misses out on Sunday, it will be the longest streak in his career without standing on the rostrum.
