During the Austrian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer Riccardo Adami had a tense disagreement over the best race strategy, with Hamilton pushing for a one-stop approach despite Ferrari’s differing plan. Although Hamilton initially insisted on extending his stint, he eventually accepted the team’s directive to pit again, a decision that proved effective for Ferrari’s race outcome.
The conflict unfolded as the second round of pit stops arrived, with Hamilton making it clear over team radio that he wanted to stay out, hoping to complete the race without another stop. Adami, however, insisted, urging Hamilton to box immediately. Hamilton questioned the need to stop, asking about tyre condition and remaining laps, but ultimately complied with the team’s call. He rejoined the race in fourth place, where he remained until the checkered flag, finishing just over nine seconds behind his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton Acknowledges Ferrari’s Strategic Choices Post-Race
Asked after the race whether a one-stop strategy was achievable, Hamilton responded affirmatively but later reflected on the team’s decision-making and conceded their call was likely the correct one. He said,
“But in the end I saw that the decision taken was probably the right one,”
recognizing Ferrari’s superior strategy judgment in this instance.
Ongoing Challenges as Hamilton Adapts to Ferrari
Now eleven rounds into his career at Ferrari, Hamilton continues to face difficulties fully adapting to his new car and team dynamic. Despite his Sprint race victory in China, he is yet to secure a podium finish with Ferrari and trails his teammate Charles Leclerc by 28 points in the Drivers’ Championship, with Leclerc securing four podiums including a strong result in Austria.
Hamilton’s analysis of Ferrari’s SF-25 following upgrades for Austria revealed significant struggles. He admitted to challenges in handling the car during the race, noting problems with balancing understeer and oversteer at varying speeds, as well as issues with braking performance. According to Hamilton,
“I generally struggle to drive this car in the race,
”
explaining that finding stability at high speed and responsiveness in corners remains difficult.
Despite these setbacks, he acknowledged progress in qualifying performance and regarded his fourth-place finish as a step forward. He described the race difficulties, saying,
“Still a lot to improve but being P3 and P4 is already a big step forward.”
Hamilton also commented on his isolation during the race, adding,
“It’s never a good feeling when you drop back. But yeah, I was pretty much alone after Lap 1.”
Looking Ahead to the British Grand Prix
Hamilton now turns his focus to the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone, a track where he holds the record for the most wins, having triumphed nine times. The home event presents an important opportunity for him to build momentum and work toward closing the gap to his teammate in the championship standings. The results in this key race will carry weight as Hamilton continues his adjustment period with Ferrari while contending with technical and strategic challenges.
