Ferrari arrives in Austria with serious momentum after Lewis Hamilton’s 106th career win in Barcelona—and a fresh engine upgrade that could further shake up the 2026 Formula 1 title race.
The Scuderia will introduce its first in-season power unit update at Spielberg, aiming to fix its straight-line deficit and build on what many already see as the strongest chassis on the grid.
Key Points:
- Ferrari introduces its first in-season engine upgrade to boost straight-line performance in Austria.
- Hamilton sits just 41 points behind Antonelli after claiming his 106th career Formula 1 victory in Spain.
- Mercedes and McLaren drivers expect Ferrari to take another step forward, with rivals closely watching the impact of the new power unit.
- Ferrari remains cautious, insisting Mercedes is still the benchmark despite its recent resurgence.
Hamilton’s Barcelona Win Signals Ferrari’s Rise
Hamilton’s dominant performance in Spain marked his 106th career victory and a turning point in Ferrari’s season. With a strong final stint, he underlined how far the SF-26 has progressed.
The result also brought him within 41 points of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, tightening the fight at the top after Mercedes’ early-season dominance.
Rivals Take Ferrari Very Seriously Now
Mercedes’ George Russell admitted Barcelona served as a “reality check,” pointing out Ferrari’s clear improvement in straight-line speed even before the engine upgrade.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has already labelled the SF-26 the strongest chassis on the grid, while Lando Norris warned that Ferrari could dominate if its power unit matched Mercedes’ level. Antonelli also expects Ferrari to be firmly in the mix in Austria, alongside McLaren and a heavily upgraded Red Bull.
Ferrari Keeps Feet on the Ground
Despite the hype, Ferrari is not declaring itself the favourite. Hamilton insists the team must keep improving step by step rather than focusing on the championship picture. Charles Leclerc also maintains that Mercedes is still the reference, especially on power-sensitive tracks where Ferrari continues to lose time on the straights.
With the new engine upgrade arriving in Austria, Ferrari’s next step will reveal whether its Barcelona breakthrough was a turning point—or just a sign of a much closer fight ahead.
