Lewis Hamilton delivered a strong performance at the Austrian GP, finishing fourth at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday, but he revealed that a persistent brake problem affected his chances of reaching the podium. The seven-time world champion highlighted the issue as a critical factor that hampered his race pace and car balance during the event.
Starting from the second row, Hamilton qualified behind Oscar Piastri, securing fourth position on the grid. The British driver maintained his place at the start and stayed in fourth throughout the race, unable to challenge the three drivers ahead. Early on, Hamilton stayed close to Charles Leclerc, matching the Ferrari driver’s lap times, but began to fall behind as the brake problems emerged.
Hamilton Details Brake Malfunction That Slowed Him Down
While maintaining proximity to Leclerc initially, Hamilton began to struggle with the car’s balance and brake performance, which compromised his ability to compete for a podium finish. The issue forced him to manage his brakes carefully from the early stages, costing him valuable seconds on track.
“I was able to hold on [to Charles] for a second but then I was struggling with the balance. We had brake issues. I had to manage these brakes really early on which was definitely losing us some time.” —Lewis Hamilton, post-race
Hamilton emphasized the urgency of addressing these brake concerns, stressing that they worsened his performance during the race. Alongside the brake problems, the balance of the car was not ideal, adding to the difficulties.
“That’s something I am really pushing to get fixed because it’s not great. And then, just with balance, I was struggling with the balance.” —Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari’s Mixed Results Mark Austrian GP Weekend
Scuderia Ferrari has shown promise this Formula 1 season but has yet to consistently mount a challenge for race wins. The Austrian GP brought a mixture of outcomes for the team, with Charles Leclerc achieving a podium finish while Hamilton secured fourth place, adding valuable points for Maranello.
Hamilton regarded the weekend as positive overall for Ferrari, acknowledging the team’s progress but recognizing remaining weaknesses, particularly in one-lap pace. He also revealed that a car issue hampered his qualifying performance on Saturday, further complicating his race prospects.
“Third and fourth is a real positive. There’s lots of good things to take from the weekend. There’s lots of areas to focus on. I think qualifying was better. We found a problem that I had through my last qualifying lap which cost me a tenth due to some issue on the car. That’s again a positive but I would have gone backwards if I started second anyways.” —Lewis Hamilton
Despite improvements, multiple setbacks occurred across the weekend, underlining the ongoing challenges Ferrari faces in returning to consistent front-running form. Hamilton and Leclerc are increasingly comfortable with their cars, yet technical and setup troubles continue to hinder the team’s full potential.
Challenges Persist as Ferrari Seeks to Regain Winning Form
Hamilton’s fourth place finish and Leclerc’s podium highlight Ferrari’s competitiveness but also spotlight the areas requiring urgent fixes. The brake issues Hamilton reported threaten their ability to challenge regularly for race wins unless resolved promptly. With the season still unfolding, Ferrari’s efforts to refine their car’s balance and reliability will be crucial for future success.
The Austrian GP showed Ferrari moving closer to the leaders, but as the brake complications reveal, the team remains in a demanding development battle. How quickly they address these technical setbacks could determine their standing in the championship going forward.
