Lewis Hamilton faces mounting pressure ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg as he attempts to overcome his ongoing Lewis Hamilton Austrian GP struggle, which has seen him go 12 races without a podium finish. The seven-time world champion’s poor run in the 2025 Formula 1 season with Ferrari has raised concerns about his ability to return to form at a track where he has historically faced challenges.
Hamilton’s Difficult History at the Red Bull Ring
Despite Hamilton’s dominance in the V6 hybrid era during the early 2010s, Austria has rarely been kind to him. At the Red Bull Ring, he has only claimed victory once, demonstrating the difficulties he has consistently encountered at this circuit. In 2018, during a heated battle for his fifth world championship, Hamilton arrived holding a narrow 14-point lead over Sebastian Vettel. However, his race ended in disappointment with a failure to finish after starting second on the grid.
Slow Recovery Since Joining Ferrari
Since moving to Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton has struggled to achieve consistent results. Aside from a singular victory in the Chinese Sprint race, he has failed to reach the podium in the main Grand Prix events, with last standing on a podium in Las Vegas 12 races prior. If the pattern continues at the Austrian GP, Hamilton will tie his longest streak without a podium, matching a drought spanning from the 2023 Sao Paulo to the 2024 Spanish Grands Prix.
Disappointing 2018 Austrian Grand Prix Revisited
Hamilton’s 2018 performance in Austria was marked by a promising start but unfortunate strategic decisions. Having qualified second behind his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton surged into the lead on the opening lap. However, the retirement of Bottas on lap 14 hinted at problems ahead. A virtual safety car allowed rival teams Ferrari and Red Bull to make prompt pit stops, while Mercedes, under the guidance of then chief strategist James Vowles, chose to keep Hamilton on track. This decision cost Hamilton valuable time during his pit stop under regular race conditions.
The race unfolded frustratingly for Hamilton as he dropped to fourth place before struggling to recover his position. Attempts to push aggressively resulted in tire overheating, forcing an additional pit stop that further damaged his chances. Eventually, with just eight laps remaining, Hamilton retired from the race, the first time he had failed to finish a Grand Prix since 2016.
“It is my mistake, just give us what you can,”
said James Vowles, the ex-Mercedes chief strategist and now Williams’ team principal.
“I have thrown away the win today.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff reflected on the severity of the loss.
“That was a major wake-up call,”
he stated, continuing,
“This is exactly how motor racing can go it can be very, very cruel, and we had all the cruelty go against us today, and it just got us brutally.”
Championship Impact and Hamilton’s Reaction
Following Hamilton’s retirement, Sebastian Vettel seized the championship lead by finishing third. Hamilton described the race as
“the worst race I can remember for a very, very long time.”
He acknowledged the difficult weekend, citing both reliability concerns and strategic missteps.
“It is the hardest weekend we have had for a long, long time, we will discuss reliability and the strategy call,”
he remarked, adding,
“We have a lot of strategists, and I don’t know how we can make those errors, but James put his hand up.”
“We have lost a lot of points either through bad calls or reliability.”
Hamilton’s Austrian Grand Prix Results Over the Years
Hamilton’s history at the Austrian GP reflects a mix of highs and disappointments, which adds context to his current struggles:
2014: Started 9th, Finished 2nd
2015: Started 1st, Finished 2nd
2016: Started 1st, Finished 1st
2017: Started 8th, Finished 4th
2018: Started 2nd, Did Not Finish
2019: Started 4th, Finished 5th
2020: Started 5th, Finished 4th
2021: Started 4th, Finished 4th
2022: Started 8th, Finished 3rd
2023: Started 5th, Finished 8th
2024: Started 5th, Finished 4th
Team Challenges and the Road Ahead
Hamilton’s difficulties at Austria symbolize broader issues affecting both his performance and Ferrari’s competitiveness this season. The team’s strategic errors and reliability problems have undermined potential victories and points gains. As Wolff pointed out, racing can be harsh and unforgiving, and this sentiment resonates deeply with Hamilton’s current challenges in 2025.
With the Austrian GP looming, Hamilton will be eager to reverse his fortunes, avoid equaling his longest podium drought, and demonstrate that he remains a contender despite recent setbacks. His ability to rebound at Spielberg could significantly influence his momentum for the remainder of the season and impact Ferrari’s standing in the championship battle alongside rivals like Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Max Verstappen.
