Ferrari marked a relative season-best at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, delivered by the new floor upgrade and strong track execution. Charles Leclerc finished third, with Lewis Hamilton closely behind in fourth—their best results since Monaco. It’s progress, but not without caveats.
The Positives: Qualifying & Race Execution
Qualifying Surge
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Leclerc secured P2, while Hamilton captured P4, both topping Ferrari’s performance benchmarks. Hamilton even praised the team’s efforts:
“Fantastic result… world class,” thanks to the improved floor and operational efficiency in qualifying.
Race Pace & Consistency
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Ferrari delivered a clean race, with both drivers maintaining position behind McLaren. Deputy team principal Jérôme d’Ambrosio lauded the improvement:
“We are progressing step by step… very important both in qualifying and the race”.
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Leclerc finished P3, his 47th career podium and third at the Red Bull Ring, noting that the team “paid the price” for cautious balance but still felt it was a good race.
The Negatives: Balance, Brake Issues & Strategy
Hamilton’s Brake Woes
Hamilton candidly admitted he was “really struggling” with brake and balance issues, impacting his pace:
“I was pushing to get the brake issues on my Ferrari fixed… not great”.
He still managed P4—the best he’s done in a full GP for Ferrari—but saw room for improvement relative to Leclerc:
“Just not good enough” reflected his dissatisfaction.
Conservative Strategy & Thermal Management
D’Ambrosio revealed that Ferrari opted for conservative tyre and brake strategy in Austria’s heat:
“Logical to ensure the car stayed within safe limits” when pacing between McLaren and Mercedes.
This cautious approach may have limited pace but avoided disasters.
Driver Comments: Reflections from the Cockpit
Charles Leclerc
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Pristine spirits heading into the weekend:
“I generally think positive… even better mood as we have some updates here”.
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On race pace:
“We paid the price… but I rate it as a good race”.
Lewis Hamilton
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Qualified well and fought into P4:
“Great start… holding on outside… pretty awesome”.
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Admitted challenges:
“Balance and brake issues… losing time”.
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Honest about his deficit relative to Leclerc:
“Just not good enough”.
Championship Implications
Constructors’ Standings
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Ferrari moves back into second place, overtaking Mercedes, with the McLaren duo now miles ahead.
Drivers’ Battle
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Leclerc’s 15 points extend his advantage over Hamilton in the driver standings, while Hamilton climbs to sixth with 91 points—ahead of rookie Antonelli in seventh.
Development Momentum
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Positive effects from the floor upgrade. Ferrari now need to refine brake and balance issues before the development freeze begins ahead of 2026.
Final Thoughts: Progress with Prudence
Ferrari may not have fully dethroned McLaren or punched into the title battle, but the Austrian GP marks tangible progress. A cautious, well-executed weekend allowed both drivers to score strongly, with an updated car proving its worth.
However, Ferrari acknowledged internal weaknesses—especially brake stability and strategic conservatism. The challenge now lies in refining these details and maintaining development momentum, as they fight to stay P2 against a charging Mercedes and resilient midfield.
With championship rival McLaren exhibiting race-winning pace and Red Bull faltering with lap 1 retirements, Ferrari find themselves in a pivotal chase: the best of the rest, hoping to step onto the podium regularly. Austria was a solid foundation—now they must build upon it and show they’re serious contenders for the remaining 13 races.
