Lewis Hamilton urges Ferrari to investigate deployment issue after Austrian Grand Prix concerns
By Hugo Harvey
Lewis Hamilton has urged Ferrari to investigate what he believes is a significant weakness in the team’s energy deployment system after the Austrian Grand Prix, warning that the problem is costing the Scuderia valuable performance in straight-line speed against their Formula 1 rivals.
The seven-time world champion raised the issue after another challenging race weekend in Austria, where Ferrari appeared unable to match the sustained acceleration of Mercedes on the straights. Hamilton suggested that the problem extends beyond raw engine power, pointing instead to how Ferrari deploys electrical energy throughout a lap.
Speaking after the race, Hamilton explained that Ferrari’s deployment characteristics were noticeably different from those of Mercedes, particularly during the latter part of long straights.
> “We were down six tenths just in straight-line speed. I have to go and see what the case was today, but I’m sure it was not insignificant.”
Hamilton believes the issue becomes most apparent after exiting corners, where Ferrari initially feels competitive before gradually losing ground as rivals continue to accelerate.
He elaborated by saying:
> “When you’re around these guys, it’s deployment, but it doesn’t necessarily feel so much as power, because when you come out of the corner, it feels like you’ve got the grunt, but it’s just deployment at the end. Ours tails off, and particularly Mercedes, they just keep going.”
His comments suggest Ferrari’s hybrid energy deployment is exhausting its available electrical assistance earlier than some of its competitors, leaving drivers vulnerable during the closing stages of long acceleration zones.
The issue also caught the attention of Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli, who described a dramatic moment involving Charles Leclerc during the opening stages of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Antonelli explained that the unexpected speed difference between the two cars nearly resulted in contact into Turn 1.
> “They were so slow. They were deploying so weirdly. I almost crashed with Leclerc into Turn 1 on Lap 2, because of the speed difference. I was like probably 30 kph up.”
The sizeable speed differential highlighted just how unusual Ferrari’s energy deployment appeared compared to Mercedes, with Antonelli revealing that he closed on Leclerc much faster than anticipated.
Hamilton acknowledged that Ferrari’s engineers are likely already examining the data but admitted the solution is unlikely to arrive immediately.
> “So we’ve got to look at why and how we can improve that. But that’s not going to come for a while.”
Those remarks underline the complexity of the challenge facing Ferrari. Unlike a straightforward mechanical reliability issue, energy deployment is deeply integrated into the hybrid power unit’s control systems, battery management, software calibration, and overall race strategy.
Modern Formula 1 power units rely on sophisticated energy recovery and deployment systems. While all manufacturers operate under the same technical regulations, each team develops its own methods for harvesting electrical energy under braking and redistributing it during acceleration.
If deployment is released too aggressively early on a straight, the electrical assistance can diminish before the braking zone arrives. Rival teams with more efficient deployment strategies can continue receiving hybrid assistance for longer, resulting in superior terminal speeds despite similar engine outputs.
Hamilton’s observations suggest this is precisely where Ferrari is currently losing performance.
The Austrian Grand Prix, held at the Red Bull Ring, is particularly demanding on power units due to its long uphill straights and heavy acceleration zones. Small deficiencies in deployment become highly visible, making it an ideal circuit for exposing differences between manufacturers.
Mercedes appeared to maximise its hybrid deployment throughout the lap, while Ferrari struggled to maintain comparable acceleration over extended distances.
For Ferrari, solving the issue may require more than incremental software adjustments. Engineers may need to reassess how electrical energy is harvested, stored and released during different phases of a lap while remaining within FIA regulations governing hybrid systems.
With the British Grand Prix at Silverstone approaching, attention will now turn to whether Ferrari can make any meaningful improvements before another power-sensitive circuit.
Silverstone features several long flat-out sections where efficient energy deployment can significantly influence overtaking opportunities and defensive performance. Should Ferrari continue to lose speed toward the ends of the straights, Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc could once again find themselves vulnerable to Mercedes and other rivals.
Although Hamilton remains confident Ferrari understands the nature of the problem, his comments make it clear that a complete solution will require patience rather than an immediate technical breakthrough.
As Formula 1’s competitive margins continue to tighten during the 2026 season, even relatively small shortcomings in hybrid deployment can translate into several tenths of a second over a lap. Hamilton’s call for further investigation therefore represents more than a routine technical observation it highlights an area Ferrari must improve if it hopes to consistently challenge Mercedes and the front-runners in the races ahead.
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