Lewis Hamilton has called Ferrari’s performance during Saturday’s qualifying session at the Austrian Grand Prix a “fantastic result”, Afrosport reports.
The seven-time world champion qualified for Sunday’s race in fourth place while his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc sandwiched polesitter Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
It matched the Scuderia’s best qualifying result, which was in Monaco in May and comes after the Italian team introduced new car upgrades for this weekend.
“The team have worked hard back in the factory to bring us a new floor this weekend,” Hamilton said
“For us to be much closer and be on the second row, and for Charles who is on the front row, I think that’s really fantastic.”
Hamilton was just 0.09 seconds slower than Leclerc, and believes he could have qualified higher than fourth if his final lap was optimised had he optimised.
The 40-year-old added: “My last lap wasn’t perfect, I think that could have been, if I had finished that, would have been second.
“So there’s lots of positives to take out from that session. Also I think it has been the best day, operationally, particularly through qualifying, how the team operated, just timings, the information we are getting in terms of traffic and positionings on track, it was the best, it was proper world class. That is what we are working towards.”
Saturday in Spielberg = 🏁
An interrupted last run for Max means he’ll start P7. A tough end to Yuki’s session, but plenty of opportunity for tomorrow’s Race 💪
Results | NOR, LEC, PIA, HAM, RUS, LAW, Max 👊, BOR, ANT, GAS. Yuki, P18 🫶#F1 || #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/ZbVB1Z7oeG
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) June 28, 2025
Ferrari’s improved performance comes following criticism within Italian media, with the leadership of team principal Frederic Vasseur being questioned.
Hamilton, however, said he was blocking out all the noise and rather focusing on improving with the team. “Ultimately, we continue to work together, protect each other, block out all the noise and just keep our heads down.
“It’s an incredible team. We’re working, and I’m working with Fred, we’re working to put all the pieces of the puzzle in the right place, step by step.
“It can’t be done in one go. Just got to keep working at it. I’m really happy with the progress we are making.”
Hamilton is a one-time champion at the Austrian Grand Prix since its return on the F1 calendar in 2014, winning it in 2016. He also won the race at the same venue under the guise of the Styrian Grand Prix in 2020.
