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Fresh from winning in Barcelona, Ferrari will reportedly arrive at the Austrian Grand Prix ‘fired up’ thanks to their simulation ‘data’.
This weekend, the 2026 Formula 1 campaign will resume with the Austrian Grand Prix, taking place around the Red Bull Ring.
Ferrari are currently the talk of the town, having halted Mercedes’ winning start to the season at the Barcelona Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton came out victorious at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, beating George Russell and Lando Norris.
As a result, Hamilton is now 41 points behind Kimi Antonelli and with Ferrari’s expected upgrades, courtesy of ADUO, the Brit could mount a serious title challenge.
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Ferrari expect to ‘gain two-tenths of a second’ on Mercedes in Austria
According to Italian news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ferrari have set out a plan to finally eliminate their ‘chronic deficit’ to Mercedes.
It has been suggested that starting from this weekend’s race in Austria, the fruits of Ferrari engine specialists’ labour will be displayed.
The report stated that Enrico Gualtieri, who leads the Scuderia’s engine team, has identified Spielberg, Silverstone, and Spa as three ‘crucial rounds’ in their bid to catch Mercedes, due to them being energy-management and raw power-reliant tracks.
With the help of ADUO, it is expected that Ferrari will finally be able to close the gap to Mercedes in the high-speed sections, with simulation ‘data’ showing a ‘gain of two-tenths of a second’.
It is believed that if the simulation ‘data’ is correct, this will be a ‘decisive’ step in their plan and this weekend, Ferrari are set to arrive at the Red Bull Ring ‘more fired up than ever’.
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Despite their confidence in their upgrades, Austria will be a huge challenge for Ferrari, due to the nature of the circuit.
It is the sixth-fastest track on the calendar, and Ferrari have struggled at faster tracks this season, most noticeably in Melbourne and Suzuka.
However, with clear momentum behind them and a rejuvenated Hamilton at the helm, this could be a huge turning point in their season as they look to chase the Silver Arrows.
Mercedes will also head to Austria with concerns of their own, especially after Antonelli’s retirement in Barcelona.
The Mercedes power unit has suffered multiple reliability issues this season, which have impacted both Russell and Antonelli, as well as their customer team, McLaren.
With the gap between Mercedes and Ferrari currently at 72 points, the Austrian Grand Prix will be a crucial round in this season’s title race.
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