Lewis Hamilton Reveals Ferrari Cooling Issue After Austrian GP

Lewis Hamilton faced a tough race at the 2026 Austrian GP, with a cooling vest failure and engine issues.

What happened?

The FIA had activated its Heat Hazard protocol due to extreme temperatures. Hamilton's vest stopped working at the start, leaving him without protection.

Ferrari's Engine Upgrade

Ferrari's updated power unit was supposed to help, but it coincided with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc going backwards.

Hamilton said the engine got hot, and he had to reduce power output, losing time every lap.

The result reshuffled the championship standings, with George Russell climbing to second and Hamilton dropping to third.

What comes next?

Hamilton stated that the fix is "a while" off, given what happened in Spielberg.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that they didn't have the pace to fight with Mercedes and Max Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton finished the race, but the issues hindered his performance, and he is now third in the standings.

Why it matters for Lewis Hamilton

The Austrian GP was supposed to be the weekend Ferrari's upgrade programme started closing the gap, but it illustrated how much work remains.

Hamilton and Leclerc struggled with the new power unit, which was supposed to provide a boost.

The championship standings have changed, with Russell and Antonelli leading, and Hamilton needing to catch up.