Formula 1 Austrian GP
Ferrari's Austrian GP problems explained as Lewis Hamilton loses P2 in championship
Jamie Chadwick believes Ferrari’s disappointing Austrian GP was caused by a combination of poor straightline speed and overheating issues
Lydia Mee
Edited: Jun 29, 2026, 2:30 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Sky Sports Formula 1 pundit Jamie Chadwick believes a combination of compromised straightline speed and overheating issues hindered the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Maranello outfit arrived at the Red Bull Ring hoping to capitalise on upgrades and the momentum of Hamilton's win at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. But while Leclerc and Hamilton qualified second and third, they ultimately finished in eighth and fifth, respectively.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1 during the post-race analysis, Chadwick explained: "They rolled the dice with the strategy, and it didn't really work out. Hamilton going on to the soft tyre with the virtual safety car, you would have expected him to make more progress than he did.
"The straightline speed makes a big impact as you can't pass so easily and you get stuck behind cars. A few issues compounded. But at the start of the race Lewis was right there and pushing Russell.
"I was surprised they fell away as much as they did but overheating issues may be what really set them back."
Jamie Chadwick, Jaguar TCS Racing
Photo by: Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur admitted that "everything went in the wrong direction" for the squad while speaking with Sky Sports after the race.
"We didn't have the pace to fight with Mercedes and Max Verstappen and over-pushed the first couple of laps and had to change strategy. Everything went in the wrong direction. It's a good lesson," he said.
Mercedes' George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix from pole position. The Briton was joined on the podium by four-time champion Max Verstappen in second and the current championship leader Kimi Antonelli in third.
Russell's win resulted in him taking second in the drivers' championship back from Hamilton. Antonelli now leads with 171 points, Russell sits second with 131 points and the seven-time champion is third with 125 points.
Photos from Austrian GP - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday
Formula 1
57
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Toto Wolff hails George Russell's "cold-blooded" Austrian GP victory
Next article Max Verstappen details mid-Austrian GP Red Bull F1 car issues that dented victory charge
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lydia Mee
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
More from
Lewis Hamilton
The 'difference' between Kimi Antonelli's F1 title and Lewis Hamilton's according to Toto Wolff
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
11 h
The 'difference' between Kimi Antonelli's F1 title and Lewis Hamilton's according to Toto Wolff
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
More from
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc blames Mexico GP clash on track layout - Fred Vasseur disagrees
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
23 h
Charles Leclerc blames Mexico GP clash on track layout - Fred Vasseur disagrees
Latest news
NASCAR VP explains Carson Hocevar, Josh Berry penalties
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
8 h
NASCAR VP explains Carson Hocevar, Josh Berry penalties
Colton Herta to run Cadillac FP1 in Brazil as FIA superlicense quest continues
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
8 h
Colton Herta to run Cadillac FP1 in Brazil as FIA superlicense quest continues
NASCAR issues penalties to Carson Hocevar and Josh Berry for Martinsville brake-checks
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
9 h
NASCAR issues penalties to Carson Hocevar and Josh Berry for Martinsville brake-checks
NASCAR making progress with short track show but drivers still want more
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
10 h
NASCAR making progress with short track show but drivers still want more
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe