Ferrari falters at Austrian Grand Prix amid heat, tyre wear and pole controversy

Ferrari struggled at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, with the team finishing well off the podium. Charles Leclerc dropped to eighth place and Lewis Hamilton managed only fifth after the cars suffered rapid tyre degradation in unusually high temperatures. The Scuderia made three pit stops for both drivers, but the strategy could not recover lost pace. Team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed an engine performance deficit that has persisted since the start of the season, noting that upcoming upgrades cannot solve the problem immediately.

The difficulty was preceded by a dramatic qualifying session in which Ferrari appeared poised for a 1‑2 finish, only for George Russell to claim pole after a yellow‑flag incident that nullified Max Verstappen’s fast lap. Ferrari’s pit crew were seen celebrating before the reversal, highlighting the fine line that regulations can draw in Formula 1.