The Austrian GP saw Ferrari trying hard to improve their performance with new upgrades, but they still faced difficulties on the track. Fans and experts are watching closely to see if Ferrari can turn things around during the race.
Ferrari's Upgrades and the Race Day Reality
Ferrari brought a major new floor to improve the car's aerodynamics. These changes included new body parts, edges, and a reprofiled diffuser. The goal was to give the car better grip on fast and slow turns, making it faster and more stable. However, during the practice sessions, the team saw that the upgrades didn't give a big boost in speed during quick laps.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton tested the new floor but found that the performance gain was very small. Leclerc was about six-tenths slower than the fastest drivers, mainly because his car had less cornering speed. Hamilton was even behind Leclerc, mostly because of gearbox issues in his car. They both said the new parts felt good in theory, but it was hard to notice much difference on the track.
Challenges and Next Steps for Ferrari
Leclerc couldn't do a full run in the first practice and had some off-track moments in the second. He explained that he couldn't feel much difference with the new floor. "It's very hard to tell if the upgrades are working because the gains are very small," he said. The team hopes that with more work and data, they can improve the car for qualifying and the race.
Hamilton also faced problems, including gearbox trouble, which limited his running. Despite these issues, he praised his team for fixing the problems quickly. He said, "The team did a great job to get the gearbox fixed so I could get out on track again. But overall, our pace is not where we want it to be."
Although the new upgrades did not bring the expected big improvements, Ferrari knows they need to keep pushing. The team plans to analyze all the data collected and make more adjustments. The main focus is to increase speed in both qualifying and during the race, especially in tricky turns where they are losing time.
This race weekend remains challenging for Ferrari. They face tough competition from other teams, especially Red Bull and McLaren, who have shown strong performance. Ferrari drivers are motivated to find better setups and get closer to the top, but it may take more time and effort.
Fans of Ferrari are hopeful that the team will improve soon. The recent upgrades were a step in the right direction, and everyone's goal is to turn their struggles into success in upcoming races. Ferrari is a legendary team, and they are determined to fight hard for better results as the season goes on.
