Ferrari crew principal Frederic Vasseur has highlighted a key issue that helped form the Scuderia’s disappointing Austrian Grand Prix weekend, pointing to the crew’s incapacity to finish significant race simulations throughout Friday follow.
A weekend that began on the mistaken foot
It was already clear earlier than the Austrian Grand Prix weekend that the Pink Bull Ring would current a troublesome problem for Ferrari. Nevertheless, after Saturday’s qualifying session, there was no less than some hope that the Scuderia may repeat its 2025 end result by securing third and fourth locations behind Mercedes, quite than behind McLaren as had occurred 12 months earlier.
As a substitute, the race instructed a really completely different story. Lewis Hamilton crossed the end line in fifth place, whereas Charles Leclerc slipped dramatically from second on the grid to eighth, ending the race because the last-placed driver among the many 4 main groups.
Pink Bull additionally returned to the entrance in Austria, as demonstrated by Max Verstappen‘s second-place end and Isack Hadjar’s spectacular sixth place.
As beforehand highlighted, Ferrari discovered itself in bother as a result of it compromised a part of its setup in an effort to cut back its energy deficit. The truth that the SF-26 is supplied with a smaller turbocharger than its most important rivals turned an excellent larger handicap on the high-altitude Pink Bull Ring. In different phrases, simply because the traits of the SF-26 had been amplified in Barcelona—the place Charles Leclerc identified that the automotive’s strengths had been significantly evident—Austria as an alternative uncovered its weaknesses much more clearly.
Frederic Vasseur factors to Friday’s missed alternative
One significantly vital comment got here from Frederic Vasseur throughout his post-race media session, suggesting Ferrari’s troublesome weekend had been compromised lengthy earlier than Sunday’s Grand Prix.
“It was a sophisticated weekend. We didn’t get off to the fitting begin on Friday as a result of we struggled in each FP1 and FP2, and we weren’t in a position to full consultant race simulations.”
These feedback underline how Ferrari’s weekend was already on the again foot from the opening day of follow. As was the case earlier this season, Ferrari additionally used the primary follow session in Austria to provide Dino Beganovic observe time in Charles Leclerc‘s automotive, finishing the crew’s obligatory rookie driver FP1 appearances for the season.
Jun 29, 2026
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
