The seven-time world champion arrives at the Austrian Grand Prix in strong form after claiming his first victory for Ferrari in Barcelona, ending Mercedes’ dominant start to the campaign.
Hamilton now sits second in the Drivers’ Championship, 41 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari trail Mercedes by 72 points in the Constructors’ standings.
Hamilton said recent upgrades have improved Ferrari’s competitiveness, with further developments, including a new engine, set to debut in Austria. “I think the opportunity is there, but it’s another thing, galvanising the troops and developing,” Hamilton said.
He stressed that while the team has momentum, consistency in development will be key, warning that performance gains can stall if progress is not sustained. “It’s one foot forward, it’s a step, not the whole gap,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton pointed to a stronger sense of direction within the team compared to his debut season, where Ferrari struggled for clarity. “This year we have a north star; everyone is doubling down,” Hamilton said.
He praised the effort from staff both trackside and at the factory, saying the team is now fully aligned on improving performance. Despite Ferrari’s gains, Hamilton acknowledged that Mercedes remains the team to beat after a dominant start to the season. “They’ve been just incredible this year, a great car, an amazing team,” Hamilton said.
He warned that closing the gap will require sustained effort across the remaining races, even if a title challenge remains possible. “We have a real battle on our hands, but I don’t think it’s impossible,” he said.
Hamilton downplayed talk of an eighth world title, insisting his focus remains on executing each race weekend effectively. “We’re not thinking about the championship, we’re thinking about this weekend,” he said.
He added that discipline and consistency will be critical, echoing calls from team leadership to remain grounded despite recent success. “There are no shortcuts to success; we’ve just got to keep going,” Hamilton said.
–F1/ChannelAfrica–
