Lewis Hamilton praises Ferrari: “The progress is clear, I’m proud of the team”
After securing third place in qualifying for the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, Lewis Hamilton spoke to the media in parc fermé and praised Ferrari’s remarkable progress, highlighting the relentless efforts made behind the scenes in Maranello.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion was encouraged by Ferrari’s pace throughout qualifying, with both SF-26s finishing inside the top three after a strong turnaround compared to Friday’s running. Although George Russell ultimately claimed pole position, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton demonstrated that Ferrari is now firmly back in the fight at the front.
Lewis Hamilton applauds Ferrari’s progress
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Lewis Hamilton praised everyone at the factory for the work that has gone into improving the SF-26 over recent weeks.
“Having both Ferraris in second and third place is fantastic, and I think it’s a reflection of all the work everyone is doing back at the factory because they just keep pushing. We’re making gains step by step, and they’ve worked incredibly hard to bring the new engine here already for Austria. I’m really proud of everyone because you can clearly see all the hard work. We’re starting to reap the rewards.”
Ferrari’s latest upgrades, combined with the introduction of the new ADUO 1 power unit package, appear to have significantly improved the competitiveness of the SF-26, giving the team genuine confidence heading into Sunday’s race.
“We came very close to pole”
Hamilton also reflected on his own qualifying performance, admitting that a mistake during the opening run of Q3 may have cost him an even stronger result.
“In Q3 we looked to be in a really good position, even during the first run, but then I made a mistake. Thankfully I managed to put together a good second lap, and even so we came very close to pole. I’m really happy.”
With Charles Leclerc starting alongside George Russell on the front row and Lewis Hamilton lining up in third, Ferrari heads into the Austrian Grand Prix with renewed optimism and a realistic opportunity to challenge for victory after one of its strongest qualifying performances of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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