Ferrari tipped to overcome Mercedes challenge in Austria

Following Lewis Hamilton's breakthrough victory in Barcelona, Ferrari arrives at the Austrian Grand Prix as the bookies' and fans' favourite to secure back-to-back wins. The Scuderia carries fresh momentum after ending a year-long winless streak, though Mercedes and a resurgent Red Bull are both poised to mount serious challenges at the Red Bull Ring.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's first win in Ferrari colours has reignited belief that the Italian team can sustain a genuine championship challenge. With the constructors' battle tightening, another victory in Austria would confirm Ferrari's resurgence and pile pressure on Mercedes, which has shown rare vulnerability after suffering a second engine failure despite leading the standings.

The details:

• GPblog readers overwhelmingly back Ferrari, with 51.7% tipping the team for victory in Austria and 82.9% expecting a win next time out.
• McLaren's Andrea Stella believes Ferrari remains the "fastest car in the corners," while Mercedes likely holds the edge over a single lap when combining chassis and power unit performance.
• Red Bull is set to run its car at the weight limit for the first time this season, with Helmut Marko suggesting updates could yield significant gains.
• Ferrari will introduce a minor power unit update, though technical director Enrico Gualtieri cautioned it will not transform the competitive order on its own.

What's next:

The Austrian Grand Prix promises a tight three-way fight despite Ferrari's bullish form. While the Scuderia's cornering strength should suit the Red Bull Ring, Mercedes' single-lap pace and Red Bull's aggressive upgrades mean Hamilton and Leclerc will need more than momentum to convert favouritism into another victory.