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Ferrari tried to unnerve Mercedes with protests to the FIA about their car ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, but their theory was proved wrong by George Russell’s win.
Ferrari were looking to continue the momentum from Lewis Hamilton’s win in Barcelona by introducing engine upgrades for the Austrian Grand Prix. Things were not so positive around Mercedes, as their reliability issues have proven a major problem in 2026.
Things got even more problematic for the Silver Arrows as Ferrari protested to the FIA about Mercedes’ rear diffuser. The team introduced additional strakes extending from the rear as part of an upgrade for the W17, but they would have to make adjustments for Spielberg.
Don’t hold back: how would you rate the Austrian Grand Prix?
Ferrari’s theory around Mercedes’ rear diffuser was proved wrong by George Russell’s Austrian GP win
Ferrari were successful with their protest, with the FIA forcing Mercedes to make changes to the diffuser ahead of the Austrian GP.
Bernie Collins noticed Mercedes rushed the changes to meet FIA standards. Nevertheless, it made little difference as the Brackley outfit went on to dominate the weekend.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory
Russell controversially took pole position after completing his lap through waved yellows at the final corner due to Max Verstappen’s crash. Ferrari lined up second and third, but they were nowhere on Sunday.
Russell beat Ferrari by 25 seconds to win his second race of 2026. Toto Wolff suspects Ferrari suffered from overheating, with tyre degradation also proving costly.
Ferrari’s defeat proved, as per a report from Blick, that their theory about Mercedes’ rear diffuser was actually incorrect. They believed that this was their rival’s ‘big secret’ for their dominance under the new regulations.
What went wrong for Ferrari at the Austrian Grand Prix?
But as it would turn out, even after making the adjustments to the diffuser, Mercedes were still dominant. It is not where the Silver Arrows are making the difference, and understandably, Wolff is keeping tight-lipped on what is giving them the advantage.
It will leave Ferrari scratching their heads, especially after they seemed to regress with their new updates to the SF-26. Instead, it was Red Bull who took the fight to Mercedes, with Verstappen finishing just under two seconds behind Russell at the chequered flag.
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