Austrian GP FP2 race pace analysis: Ferrari falls behind as upgraded engine offers hope for Saturday
Lewis Hamilton’s impressive victory at the Spanish Grand Prix generated fresh optimism among Ferrari supporters, with many believing the Scuderia had finally found the breakthrough needed to challenge Mercedes consistently for victories. However, after Friday’s second practice session at the Red Bull Ring, those expectations have been tempered by a far more difficult start to the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.
It is still too early to draw definitive conclusions after only one day of running, particularly considering Ferrari also appeared uncompetitive on Friday in Barcelona before producing a remarkable turnaround over the remainder of the weekend. Nevertheless, the performance deficit shown by both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Spielberg is impossible to ignore. Ferrari finished approximately six tenths off the pace in qualifying simulations, while its race pace lagged by more than one second per lap on average compared to the benchmark.
Can Ferrari’s upgraded engine reduce the performance deficit?
The gap separating Ferrari from the front-running teams appears significant, and part of the explanation may lie in a technical decision made during the development of the SF-26. Ferrari opted to design its 2026 Power Unit with a smaller turbine than its direct rivals, a concept that can compromise overall performance, particularly at circuits where engine efficiency plays a decisive role.
Even at sea-level venues, the smaller turbine configuration is believed to leave the SF-26 at a slight disadvantage. At the Red Bull Ring, however, the issue becomes even more pronounced. Situated between 660 and 750 metres above sea level, Spielberg’s higher altitude means the thinner air places greater demands on the turbocharger, amplifying the performance gap created by Ferrari’s design philosophy.
There may, however, be additional factors influencing Friday’s results. Several observers believe Ferrari completed its practice programme with a heavier fuel load than many of its rivals while also operating conservative Power Unit settings to safeguard reliability. The Scuderia has already begun rotating its engine pool ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix, where both race cars are expected to use the updated Power Unit featuring the first ADUO upgrade package.
The revised engine specification is scheduled to be installed before the third practice session, meaning its first true evaluation will take place during Saturday morning’s FP3, only a few hours before qualifying. If the upgrade delivers the anticipated performance gain, the benefits should become apparent almost immediately.
That said, expectations remain measured. The ADUO upgrade focuses primarily on improvements to the combustion chamber rather than modifications to the turbocharger itself. As a result, while Ferrari is expected to gain additional engine performance, the altitude-related limitations caused by the smaller turbine will remain largely unchanged.
Mercedes-powered teams set the early benchmark
Based on Friday’s long-run analysis, Mercedes currently appears to hold a slight advantage heading into the remainder of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. George Russell narrowly leads teammate Kimi Antonelli, while McLaren continues to look extremely competitive thanks in part to the strength of the Mercedes Power Unit supplied from Brixworth.
Red Bull also produced encouraging race pace, outperforming Ferrari even when comparing stints completed on the same C4 medium-compound tyres. Isack Hadjar was particularly impressive, recording stronger average lap times than Charles Leclerc while managing tyre degradation more effectively during the opening phase of his stint.
Ferrari’s lack of grip through the faster corners, combined with its apparent straight-line deficit, left Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc unable to match the consistency displayed by their closest rivals during the race simulations.
Reliability could become the decisive factor
While outright performance remains crucial, reliability may ultimately prove to be the defining storyline of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. With track temperatures exceeding 50°C and the circuit’s high altitude placing additional stress on both engines and cooling systems, teams will face one of the toughest mechanical challenges of the season.
Managing tyre temperatures, Power Unit reliability and energy deployment over the course of Sunday’s race will be just as important as outright speed. Under these demanding conditions, simply bringing both cars to the chequered flag could become a significant achievement.
For Ferrari, Saturday’s upgraded ADUO engine package represents an important opportunity to reduce the gap. Whether the latest specification will be enough to transform the Scuderia into a genuine contender alongside Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull will become much clearer once Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc return to the track for FP3 and qualifying.
Let other Scuderia Fans know about us
