Leclerc 'Not So Confident' on Ferrari's Austrian GP Chances After Tough Friday

Charles Leclerc admitted Ferrari faces a steep climb at the Austrian Grand Prix, stating he is "not so confident" the team can repeat its Barcelona triumph after struggling for grip during Friday practice at the Red Bull Ring.

Why it matters:

Ferrari hoped to build on its Spanish victory in Spielberg, but a quiet opening day suggests the Scuderia remains unable to consistently match McLaren and Mercedes. With raw pace proving harder to find than tyre management, the gap to the front looks more structural than strategic.

The details:

• Leclerc finished eighth in FP2 after skipping FP1 for rookie Dino Beganovic, while Lewis Hamilton was fifth, over six tenths off pace-setter Kimi Antonelli.
• Leclerc cited a lack of grip as the primary issue, noting the car was sliding on all four tyres from the first lap.
• Team principal Fred Vasseur admitted Ferrari struggled with altitude and temperature, conceding the team is "far away" on pure potential compared to Barcelona.
• A modest V6 upgrade debuted this weekend, though Vasseur noted it was introduced early for cost-cap reasons and not expected to deliver an immediate leap.
• Leclerc warned that while degradation seems manageable, the absence of outright pace is the bigger concern.

What's next:

Ferrari must find overnight gains to stand a chance in qualifying. Vasseur believes setup changes offer room to improve, but Leclerc's early doubts indicate the team is unlikely to replicate its Barcelona success without a major turnaround.