Hamilton Optimistic in Leclerc Battle After Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying

Newsweek

9 hours ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth for the Austrian Grand Prix - showing more comfort and pace than he has all season long.
Hamilton's season is full of poor qualifying performances. After each session, he shares the lack of comfort that he feels in the SF25.
At the Red Bull Ring, the seven-time World Champion sang a different tune, feeling more optimistic about the race and how the car was driving.
Fourth placed qualifier Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari is interviewed during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 28, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria.
Fourth placed qualifier Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari is interviewed during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 28, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria.
Photo by"I'm grateful that we're on the second row at least. And usually our race is better, our car is better in the race generally than it is usually qualifying," Hamilton told the media.
"So we've improved in qualifying. Let's hope that we can carry that on into the race. The guys in the garage are always doing an amazing job. But I just think how calm the people, the guys were, the head engineers were on the pit wall.
"The timing was spot on. And when they got us into the pit lane, the gaps they were giving us, staying out of the traffic management, not getting penalties for traffic here. The turnarounds were just spot on."
Hamilton got thoroughly beaten in qualifying by his teammate at Mercedes, George Russell, last season. This season, Leclerc is beating Hamilton 8-3 in the head-to-head battle.
Over the past couple of seasons, Hamilton has lost his edge in qualifying pace, an area that was his strong suit during his earlier days.
Leclerc is one of the fastest drivers over one lap, and Russell also fits that description. It's understandable that Hamilton would struggle later in his career to keep up with these younger drivers, though the gap was somewhat jarring.
On Saturday, Hamilton showed renewed qualifying pace - he was less than a tenth off Leclerc, a big improvement over most of the season.
The difference between the Ferrari teammates is closing up, and Hamilton's tone is sounding more optimistic than usual.
"And I think edging closer in terms of performance to Charles, who's really, really used to the car, he hardly ever changes it," Hamilton added.
"So I think that's really positive. I think also I had more time in the lap. I was nearly three tenths up going into turn six and I had a massive snap in it. And then I came across a line 0.06 up, so that would have put me second.
"So there's positives in it for sure, and I think operationally the team did a really great job today. It's the best qualifying process operationally that we've done."
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