Ferrari on Austrian GP tyre issues
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc said Ferrari’s Austrian Grand Prix unraveled due to severe rear tyre degradation in the heat, leaving them sliding backwards and “confused” about the car’s balance and set-up direction. Hamilton said: “The rears just dropped off on every set… We just couldn't keep up with everyone today.” Leclerc fell from second to eighth, lamenting “missing a lot of rear grip” after feeling happy with the car in qualifying. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the drivers “over-pushed the first couple of laps” while trying to stay with faster cars, forcing strategy changes, and also said traffic led to power unit overheating that limited performance.
Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc confused by woeful Ferrari race pace in Austria
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Perez and Bottas retire with brake problems
Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas both retired from the Austrian Grand Prix in the opening laps after suffering brake problems. Perez said the weekend had been “very frustrating” and added: “I expect a massive internal discussion on our processes… because we have to step up because we cannot have these sort of issues.” Bottas said his Lap 2 retirement was sudden, adding: “I could start to smell some smoke… and then suddenly everything was on fire, front brakes on fire.”
Perez and Bottas reflect on Cadillac issues
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The Race
@wearetherace
🗣️ "As a whole I think it's difficult to understand the pecking order this year."
Charles Leclerc's baffled by the big race-to-race performance swings:
9h ago
Autosport
@autosport
Toto Wolff: "Honestly, I think Max was the most important factor this weekend. He just knows how to get everything out of the car that's in it. You see that with his teammates as well. That is why you should never, ever leave the Verstappen factor out of consideration or
8h ago
Adam Cooper
@adamcooperF1
Just a few hours too late to spice things up - rain in Austria as the F1 teams are packing up:
8h ago
The Race
@wearetherace
👀 Lewis Hamilton has finished ahead of Charles Leclerc in the last 5 grands prix.
Here's how the Ferrari team-mates compare across the key statistics so far this season:
7h ago
Autosport
@autosport
Silverstone feels like a "totally different track" with these new F1 cars according to Max Verstappen 👀
6h ago
Formula 1
@F1
Absolute cinema! 🎦🍿
Relive the feisty battle in Austria between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen ⚔️
#F1 #AustrianGP
5h ago
ESPN F1
@ESPNF1
Max's reaction to being asked about his chances in the title race this season 😅
4h ago
2026 F1 Austrian GP race analysis by Peter Windsor
George Russell's breakthrough, Ferrari's setback as F1 title race shifts again at Austrian GP
Relief for Russell as he returns to winning ways
Verstappen on Silverstone under 2026 energy management rules
Max Verstappen said he “started laughing” when he drove Silverstone on Red Bull’s simulator because energy management under the 2026 engine rules left him with “barely” any battery for much of the lap, which he expects will make the British Grand Prix “a tough one”. Verstappen said: "Silverstone I mean, I love the track, but yeah, I did a few laps on the simulator, I just started laughing. It felt like a different track to be honest. You barely have battery around the lap, it's just constantly flat. So it's going to feel very different compared to what we are used to around Silverstone because of the layout of the track... It's going to be a tough one."
Why Verstappen "started laughing" driving Silverstone on Red Bull simulator
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Verstappen “started laughing” after driving new car at Silverstone on simulator
Lawson on Lindblad battle after brake management instruction
Liam Lawson says he will probably speak to Racing Bulls after being challenged by team-mate Arvid Lindblad in the Austrian Grand Prix when he had been told to manage his brakes. Lawson said: "I was told to manage the brakes, and I wouldn't be attacked. I was, so it was not exactly planned, so I just made sure to stay close in that second stint, and made the pass again."
Liam Lawson seeking Racing Bulls talks after team orders confusion
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Russell on bouncing back from low point in title race
George Russell said he went into the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix from a “low point” before bouncing back with two pole positions and his win in Austria to close the gap to Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the title race. Russell said: "It's been a tough couple of months with some really tricky races, with races that felt like everything was going against me, then some races with some tough performances. Going into Barcelona from quite a low point, I needed a lot of resilience to be able to get back and deliver some strong performances. So, to get the last two poles, to get the win here this weekend... I'm really, really proud."
Russell admits to being at 'low point' before F1 title resurgence
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DHL_Motorsports
@DHL_Motorsports
A big chase by Kimi Antonelli! He sets the #DHL Fastest Lap but can't snatch P2 away from Max Verstappen.
#F1 #DHLF1 #AustrianGP #MomentsThatDeliver
10h ago
DHL_Motorsports
@DHL_Motorsports
What a race from @visacashapprb! They capped off a great double-points finish with the #DHL Fastest Pit Stop for Arvid Lindblad.
#F1 #DHLF1 #AustrianGP #DHLFastestPitStop
6h ago
All the key moments from the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix
What the teams said – Race day in Austria
Analysis: Max Verstappen and Red Bull surprise themselves with stunning Austrian GP result
How 'resilient' George Russell got his F1 title bid back on track
Mercedes 1-3 in Austrian GP
Toto Wolff said Mercedes’ 1-3 in the Austrian Grand Prix was a timely “bounce back after Barcelona”, as George Russell converted pole into victory and Kimi Antonelli recovered to third behind Max Verstappen. Wolff said the team “made a good jump in terms of points this weekend” and praised its calm execution around two Virtual Safety Car periods, adding: “The tyres held on well… it was one of the good weekends.” He also felt Antonelli missed a chance by going “full attack” in the opening laps.
Wolff reviews Russell and Mercedes' Austria ‘bounce back’
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Alonso on overheating sensor behind Austrian pit-lane speeding penalty
Fernando Alonso says an overheating sensor may have led to his pit-lane speeding penalty at the Austrian Grand Prix. Alonso said: "They told me on the second stop to go around 75 kph on the pit lane manually. It happened sometimes in practice as well, a couple of weekends ago. The front wheel sensor sometimes gets too hot and reads a different speed. So, I guess it's that again."
Alonso presents Aston Martin theory after FIA issues Austria penalty
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Hamilton on Ferrari's power deficit to Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari will not be able to match Mercedes’ power “for a while” after finishing fifth at the Austrian Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "We're going to have to push really, really hard to see when we can get the next power upgrade. But yeah, when you're around these guys, it's just deployment. It doesn't necessarily feel so much as power because when you start to come out of the corner, it feels like you've got the grunt, but it's just deployment at the end. Ours stalls off, and you know, particularly Mercedes, they just keep going. So we've got to look at why and how we can improve that, but that's not going to come for a while."
Lewis Hamilton warns Ferrari F1 fix to catch Mercedes is 'a while' off
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Verstappen on Red Bull strategy in Austria
Max Verstappen said Red Bull’s strategy in Austria left him believing he could have kept George Russell behind in the fight for victory, after finishing 1.6 seconds behind the Mercedes driver. Verstappen said: "In hindsight, it's easier to say that but we will look back at it. It was still going to be a long stint on the tyres, but at the same time, my degradation was a bit better than George, so I'm pretty confident I could have kept him behind. It's still a very good result after quite some tough times, lately being better, now for the first time fighting for a win. That's a good step."
'I could have kept Russell behind' - Verstappen says strategy denied him chance of win
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Hamilton on Ferrari's Austrian GP reality check
Lewis Hamilton said Ferrari’s difficult Austrian Grand Prix was a “reality check” and that the team is still down on pace to Mercedes, after he finished fifth following his win at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "I think it's more of a reality check. We do still have a good car but we are down compared to Mercedes just on pace - they are quicker and we have to keep developing. It doesn't mean we can't close that gap, but that one win doesn't mean we are going to be beating them all the time. We've got a lot of work to do, particularly power is where we're going to keep working."
Lewis Hamilton labels Austrian GP a 'reality check,' Ferrari off the 'pace' against strong Mercedes
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Hamilton questions Ferrari's lack of pace in Austria
Hamilton on Ferrari's tyre and straight-line struggles in Austria
Lewis Hamilton said Ferrari could not keep up on tyre performance and straight-line speed in the Austrian Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "I didn't agree with any of the tyres today, it was a very hard race, it was very tough and extremely hot. The rears just dropped off on every set of tyres for some reason, the balance was very open, very difficult. On Friday, we were six-tenths down in straight line speed, and I have to go and see what the cause was today, but it was not insignificant, but also, grip-wise, we just couldn't keep up with everyone."
Lewis Hamilton reveals cause of surprise Ferrari Austria letdown
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Wolff on Verstappen's role in Red Bull's Austrian GP pace
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Max Verstappen was the biggest factor in Red Bull’s pace at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, even with the team introducing a major upgrade. Wolff said: "Max is always good for playing a role in the championship. That [Red Bull] car performed well this weekend. I think the biggest factor this weekend was Max, to be honest. He's able to bring out everything that is in that car. You can see that with his team-mates. That's why you can never discount or underestimate the Verstappen factor for a championship."
Toto Wolff points to Max Verstappen factor behind Red Bull's Austria pace
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Leclerc on lacking clarity over Ferrari car direction
Charles Leclerc says he does not have a clear picture of what he wants from Ferrari’s car, after describing his Austrian Grand Prix as “incredibly difficult”. Leclerc said: "I think I've been working very hard in the past weeks because there was always one reason or another that made me struggle on the Sunday or on the Saturday. But at the moment, there's always a reason why there's a struggle, and that probably means that I don't really have a clear picture of what I want from this car, and yeah, I've got to find that."
'Always a reason I struggle' - Charles Leclerc mystified by Ferrari F1 slump
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Verstappen on first real win fight of 2026
Max Verstappen said the Austrian Grand Prix was the first time in 2026 he has felt he could properly fight for a win, after finishing second to George Russell following Red Bull’s upgraded RB22 showing stronger pace. Verstappen said: "What was satisfying is that this was the first time I felt like actually I could fight for the win. That's a bit of a shame, but to be that close to a win I think is a great effort from the team. They have worked really hard to get these upgrades on the car here and this is the first time in the race where I felt really competitive and I could push a bit more."
Verstappen buoyed in Austria by 'first time' shot at race win
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Max Verstappen confirms vital Red Bull gains after narrow F1 Austrian GP defeat
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Antonelli on mistakes and brake problems in Austria
Kimi Antonelli said mistakes and brake problems in his first stint cost him the chance to fight for the win at the Austrian Grand Prix. Antonelli said: "Obviously starting from P4, [the] first laps were really bad for me. And then I really struggled with brakes. I just lost a lot of time because I started to do mistakes... The mistakes were made and, I mean, you know, without them [I] probably could have had the chance to fight for P2 or even P1. But of course, easy to say now and need to make sure they don't happen again."
Kimi Antonelli identifies crucial problems that cost him F1 Austrian GP win
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Kimi Antonelli rues 'mistakes' in Austria GP: 'Too excited' but a 'good learning'
Hamilton on Verstappen battle at Turn 6 in Austria
Lewis Hamilton said Max Verstappen “should have backed out” and dismissed the Red Bull driver’s call for him to be penalised after their on-track battle at Turn 6 during the Austrian Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "It was great. Good fun. He went off on the outside. You don't expect to go around the outside of a champion. I wouldn't expect to go around the outside of him there and hold the line. He was behind at the apex and therefore should have backed out. I left him just enough room."
'He should have backed out' - Hamilton dismisses Verstappen's call for penalty
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Norris on Ferrari's Austrian GP struggles
Lando Norris said Ferrari’s struggles were the biggest shock of the Austrian Grand Prix. Norris said: "The shock was really Ferrari today, struggling so much. To be honest, I feel bad for them. I mean, when you have no power, you have to push like hell in the corners, and you can't do that with these tyres. It's a tough race for them."
Lando Norris highlights biggest shock of Austrian GP
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