Hamilton realistic over Ferrari win hopes but eyes Mercedes pressure in Austrian GP

Lewis Hamilton has admitted Ferrari faces a difficult task to beat Mercedes in the Austrian Grand Prix, despite the Scuderia locking out the second and third spots on the grid behind George Russell.

Ferrari close the gap, but Mercedes remain ahead

Russell slowed under yellow flags and was later allowed to keep pole after data showed he had reduced speed sufficiently. For more on that decision, read our full breakdown of why George Russell kept pole position after the yellow flag investigation.

Hamilton, however, was careful not to overstate Ferrari’s prospects.

“I think this weekend we’ve not been confident that we could fight for a win,” he said. “These guys have been six tenths quicker than us most of the weekend.”

The seven-time champion noted that Ferrari had recovered some ground overnight, but not enough to remove Mercedes from the role of favourite.

“We closed the gap overnight three tenths, but we still are three tenths down today, or two-and-a-bit tenths down today, so it’s going to be very tough to challenge them tomorrow,” Hamilton added.

Hamilton and Leclerc eye teamwork

Where Ferrari may still have a route into the fight is through its two-car presence directly behind Russell. Hamilton pointed to the long run to Turn 3 as a possible opportunity and suggested he and Leclerc could use strategy to put Mercedes under pressure.

“It’s great having Charles here as well, because we can hopefully work together in a strategy and try to apply pressure to them,” he said.

That theme is likely to define the race. Mercedes also has two cars in the strategic equation, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli having backed out of his final qualifying run after believing there were double yellow flags — a mistake that cost him pole and a front-row place.

Russell remains confident from pole, but he also pointed to Barcelona as a warning that Ferrari cannot be discounted if the race opens tactically. Hamilton had jumped both Mercedes drivers there during a Virtual Safety Car phase, underlining how quickly control can shift.

“Without the Safety Car, Kimi and I were losing time together, and it would have given the opportunity to Ferrari to win, and that is when we need to be smart as teammates,” Russell said.

Ferrari may lack the outright pace, but with Leclerc and Hamilton together near the front, Mercedes cannot afford a passive race.