Charles Leclerc admitted Ferrari’s disappointing Austrian Grand Prix was caused by far more than just its engine deficit, revealing that severe rear tyre overheating and a lack of overall balance left him unable to fight at the front despite starting from the front row.
Austria turns into another difficult Sunday for Leclerc
After the excitement of securing a front-row starting position in qualifying, the Austrian Grand Prix quickly became a frustrating afternoon for Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque crossed the finish line only eighth after a race in which he struggled almost from the opening lap, steadily losing positions as rivals repeatedly found a way past.
Ferrari once again displayed many of the weaknesses already seen during Friday’s practice sessions. While the lack of engine power was especially noticeable at the Red Bull Ring, the 28-year-old made it clear after the race that the power unit was only part of the problem.
Leclerc: “The hard tyres were completely destroyed”
Although Ferrari’s power deficit was expected to be exposed by Spielberg’s layout, Leclerc stressed that the SF-26’s difficulties went well beyond straight-line performance.
“Right now we’re struggling a lot with the engine. In every battle I had against the Red Bulls and the Mercedes-powered cars, there was very little I could do,” Charles Leclerc explained. “But it wasn’t only the engine. Today we simply didn’t have the race pace, especially on my side of the garage, although I think the team as a whole struggled much more than we did in Barcelona.”
The lack of pace eventually forced Ferrari to alter its strategy. After losing further positions to Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris, the Monegasque made an additional pit stop late in the race.
“The choice between a two-stop and a three-stop strategy was very close. We went with three stops because we had nothing left to lose, and my tyres were completely worn out on my second set of hard tyres,” he said. “Unfortunately, strategy always looks wrong when you don’t have the pace, but today I don’t think strategy was the problem.”
Searching for answers after qualifying promise fades
The difficult afternoon at the Red Bull Ring erased the optimism generated by Charles Leclerc’s excellent qualifying performance, which had suggested Ferrari was moving back in the right direction.
“I need to keep working. Yesterday was a step forward because we made several changes to the car and took it in a slightly different direction,” the Ferrari driver explained. “Today, though, it was extremely difficult from the very first laps. I immediately felt I didn’t have much performance. During the opening two laps I even felt like I wasn’t pushing enough. Later things stabilised and improved slightly, but the performance still wasn’t where it needed to be.”
When asked why the SF-26 looked so competitive on Saturday but struggled so badly on Sunday, Charles Leclerc admitted Ferrari is still searching for answers.
“It’s very difficult to understand. I don’t think anyone really understands why performance changes so much from one weekend to another. In Barcelona we were probably one of the strongest cars on Sunday, and the upgrades worked. I don’t think it’s all about the upgrade package. These cars are incredibly sensitive to every single detail. As soon as the setup isn’t exactly right, you pay a huge price. Today was a perfect example of that.”
Rear tyre overheating becomes another concern
Charles Leclerc also revealed that the setup direction chosen after qualifying created further balance issues during the race.
“Yesterday I chose a setup that was a bit closer to what worked well for me last year. This season it simply hasn’t worked. I had no rear stability, I was sliding everywhere and overheating the rear tyres. It was extremely difficult.”
Looking ahead, the Ferrari driver acknowledged there is still significant work to do before the SF-26 can consistently compete at the front.
“We’ll have to work very hard because, honestly, things aren’t working at the moment. Qualifying was better, but once again the race wasn’t. At times like these, all I can do is keep my head down, continue working and try to understand this car.” – the Monegasque concluded following the race which was held at the Red Bull Ring circuit
Charles Leclerc’s candid assessment highlights that Ferrari’s current hurdle is a complex mix of engine deficits and extreme setup sensitivity. Unlocking consistency between qualifying and race trim will be paramount for the Scuderia as they prepare to bounce back at the upcoming high-speed challenges.
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