Ferrari had been comfortably the second quickest staff on the Austrian Grand Prix behind the runaway McLarens, however Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc know there may be extra work to do
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc each need extra regardless of a profitable debut for Ferrari’s newest spherical of upgrades. The Italian introduced a brand new flooring with them to the Austrian Grand Prix and their automotive was clearly the second quickest on observe in consequence.
McLaren dominated proceedings in Spielberg with Lando Norris heading off team-mate Oscar Piastri to win. However Ferrari had been additionally snug in third and fourth with Leclerc securing podium quantity 4 of the 12 months, whereas Hamilton matched his greatest Grand Prix end result with the staff.
Their flooring upgrades clearly labored properly however they nonetheless needed to elevate and coast all through the race to handle considerations that they could have failed post-race plank checks if that they had pushed flat out. And Hamilton additionally feels he nonetheless has some private enhancements to make, regardless of the enhancements.
He mentioned: “Mega progress for us as a staff. It did not appear a lot on paper, only a small step, but it surely truly had a much bigger affect on our efficiency. For us to be the second quickest staff this weekend and we’re not a minute down from McLaren, which is a constructive, and to bag some actually robust factors, I am undoubtedly pleased with it.
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“From my facet, I am fighting the stability within the race and struggling to carry onto the tempo and I misplaced somewhat bit an excessive amount of floor, it is one thing that I have to work on. I had a whole lot of understeer within the low velocity and oversteer within the excessive velocity, which is a tough stability to run by.
“I really feel like I made progress this weekend, being lower than a tenth off Charles in qualifying. In order that’s a constructive, I’ve simply bought to search out some tempo for the race.”
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Leclerc was additionally happy with the step ahead made by his staff and felt they achieved the absolute best end result on Sunday. However he made it clear he doesn’t need Ferrari to suppose an excessive amount of about their 2026 efforts but and proceed to develop their present automotive.
He mentioned: “I do not remorse a lot of what we have finished at this time, I believe we have finished our most. Simply not sufficient tempo. We have introduced some upgrades this weekend and we have undoubtedly finished a step ahead, however we have to preserve pushing in that path so as to shut the hole to the McLarens which, for now, are too fast.
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“We’re working in the fitting path. We introduced some upgrades this weekend which helped us to shut somewhat bit the hole, however the hole continues to be vital, sadly, and we have got to push so as to carry as many upgrades as attainable, as quickly as attainable.
“However it’s been a constructive weekend general I believe and I am glad that we have maximised our potential. Now we have got to have a greater potential.”
