BRIEFING F1: AUSTRIAN GP

Formula 1 is back in the heart of Europe, and it does so at the Red Bull Ring—a fast, compact, and brutally honest circuit. After the Canadian round, rich in talking points but poor in definitive answers, it’s right here in Styria that many questions could finally start to find some clarity.

Unlike Montreal, tire degradation makes a strong return here—an element that’s stayed in the background until now but could seriously shake up the order. In Canada, Mercedes looked strong in part due to the forgiving asphalt. In Austria, though, tire wear will take center stage, and all the performance calculations will need a reset. The Brackley squad remains a threat, with Russell riding high on confidence and Antonelli still too raw to deliver consistency on one of the most demanding tracks for tire management.

But most of the curiosity is focused elsewhere—on McLaren. The new technical directive on flexible wings may have chipped away at the edge that had previously made them nearly untouchable. It’s too early to draw hard conclusions, but the paddock is already buzzing with questions: how much of that technical advantage is still intact? There’s a sense that a small crack may have formed—and in long championships, sometimes that’s all it takes.

More is being asked of Lando Norris. After a Canadian GP that ended with the regret of a missed opportunity—more due to strategy than luck—he still seems to be battling the challenge of consistency. Piastri, on the other hand, continues to be quietly solid, composed, seemingly built for those Sundays when what’s needed is calm hands and cold blood.

Then there’s Ferrari: a chaos that almost feels institutionalized. Three key figures—Leclerc, Vasseur, and Hamilton—and three worldviews struggling to find a shared language. Leclerc tries to hold everything together without blowing up. Vasseur gets tangled in defensive press conferences. Hamilton still seems to be learning the emotional vocabulary of Maranello, where passion often blurs into pressure.

In terms of raw speed, the SF-25 didn’t look terrible in Canada—but it remains unpredictable: erratic in qualifying, and vulnerable at the first sign of anything out of the ordinary. And in Austria, there will be plenty of variables: from the C3-C4-C5 tires selected by Pirelli—some of the softest and most delicate of the season—to the ever-changing weather, which promises to throw a wrench into even the most carefully crafted race plans.

And then there’s Verstappen. The driver, more than the team. At a time when Red Bull seems less dominant, he continues to make the difference—especially on a track he knows inside out, where improvisation can still be a powerful weapon. But there’s also a risk of overdoing it: with such an erratic race direction, a lot of things could end up under the microscope.

In short? A race with wildly unpredictable potential. McLaren looking a bit less bulletproof, Mercedes on the rise and ready to pounce, Ferrari suspended between its usual paradoxes and the eternal hope of finally having a clean, straightforward weekend. And in the middle of it all—Verstappen. Still him. As if he’s the only constant in an increasingly uncertain championship.

© Simone Marchetti Cavalieri

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