Ferrari plagued by tyre wear and power‑unit gap at Austrian Grand Prix

Ferrari’s SF‑26 struggled at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, revealing the car’s weakness on the circuit’s stop‑and‑go layout. The team’s rear‑tyre grip deteriorated quickly, leading to higher tyre temperatures and faster degradation than rivals. Engineers noted that the balance between the power unit and chassis was sub‑optimal, with front‑heavy suspension settings worsening rear‑wheel slip.

Team principal Andrea Stella said, “È sempre difficile separare le prestazioni che derivano dalla power unit da quelle che derivano dal telaio e dalla resistenza aerodinamica.” He also highlighted the power‑unit power gap to Mercedes, saying the FIA’s ADUO assessment shows Mercedes currently has an advantage. Ferrari’s aggressive strategy – a short first stint and an attempt to protect the rear tyres – resulted in an early Virtual Safety Car stop for Lewis Hamilton and ongoing high‑temperature tyre wear for Charles Leclerc. The combination of chassis‑setup issues and engine performance shortfalls left Ferrari unable to match its rivals on the Austrian track.