Updated

Updated · Motorsport.com · Jun 26

Ferrari Trails by 0.6 Seconds in Austria Practice as Leclerc Doubts Barcelona Repeat

Updated

Updated · Motorsport.com · Jun 26

Ferrari Trails by 0.6 Seconds in Austria Practice as Leclerc Doubts Barcelona Repeat

Q: With rivals faltering in the heat, is rookie Kimi Antonelli's sixth consecutive F1 victory now inevitable?

No. Antonelli looks like the early favorite in Austria, but a sixth straight win is not inevitable — and the premise is wrong because his winning streak already ended in Barcelona, where Lewis Hamilton won and Antonelli retired. What is true is that Antonelli has been the standout on Friday at Spielberg. He topped both practice sessions and Mercedes appears comfortable in the extreme heat, while Ferrari struggled badly. Leclerc said the Ferrari was “sliding on all four wheels,” and Vasseur admitted the team was suffering with the combination of heat and altitude. Ferrari’s new engine upgrade delivered only the small gain expected, and their bigger issue remains outright pace. Even so, Friday pace does not make Sunday certain. McLaren was close enough to suggest a real threat on both one-lap and long-run speed, and Verstappen was still within range despite Red Bull’s balance problems. Hamilton, although over six tenths off in FP2, remains a factor given Ferrari’s recent step forward and the team’s history of improving overnight, as seen in Barcelona. The heat is also a major variable. Track temperatures above 50C, the FIA’s heat-hazard protocol, and the Red Bull Ring’s altitude all increase tire stress and can reshuffle the order over a race distance. So Antonelli is in the strongest position heading into qualifying, but not because rivals have collapsed beyond recovery, and not because a sixth consecutive victory is on the line. He is simply the man to beat right now.

3 articles · Updated · Motorsport.com · Jun 26

Ferrari ended Friday off the pace in Spielberg, with Lewis Hamilton fifth and Charles Leclerc eighth in FP2, more than six tenths behind pacesetter Kimi Antonelli.
Leclerc said the car lacked overall grip and was "sliding on all four tyres," leaving him unconvinced Ferrari can repeat its Barcelona win despite acceptable tyre degradation over longer runs.
Fred Vasseur blamed the 33C heat and track temperatures above 50C, saying Ferrari struggled with setup, driving and balance in conditions similar to those that hurt it on Friday in Spain.
The team boss said Austria differs from Barcelona because tyre wear should matter less, making Ferrari's weak one-lap pace more concerning even if the car still has setup potential to unlock overnight.
Ferrari's updated V6 engine delivered only the modest gain expected, Vasseur said, underscoring that the team's immediate problem is pace and grip rather than a missing power boost.