SportyTV | Austrian Grand Prix: Ferrari and Hamilton 'huge threat' to F1 title bids, says Russell

George Russell described Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton as a "huge threat" to his and Mercedes' Formula One title ambitions after the seven-time world champion's win in Barcelona.

Hamilton claimed his first win for Ferrari last time out, beating Russell and Lando Norris in what was the first all-British podium since the 1968 United States Grand Prix.

The 41-year-old stood on the top step for the first time since the Belgian Grand Prix two years ago with what was his 106th career victory.

Hamilton also moved closer to championship leader and Russell's team-mate, Kimi Antonelli, in the Drivers' Championship, while also ending Mercedes' perfect start to 2026.

He ended a 40-race wait for a victory, the second-longest drought of his career, while he now has the chance to win back-to-back events for the first time since 2021.

But Hamilton has only won once in Austria back in 2016, though Russell believes his former Mercedes team-mate is only going to get stronger as the season progresses.

"It's great to see Lewis back doing what he does best," Russell said. "That's also just an example of how challenging Formula 1 is.

"The cars are so complex, the tyres are so complex, the power units are complex – everything needs to click.

"If one thing isn't clicking, you can't get the most out of yourself and people were writing him off last year, or even the year we were team-mates in 2024.

"Is he too old? Is he this? Is he that? And then he goes, and he's been smashing it for the last four or five races – it just shows that you don't forget how to drive overnight.

"You need yourself, your team, the set-up, the understanding of the tyres, everything just to click and when it clicks, you fly.

"It's beautiful and that's where he is at the moment and, for sure, he [Hamilton] is a big threat. Ferrari are a huge threat.

"Kimi is still very much the driver out front and is performing really consistently, but Ferrari feel like they're coming and Lewis is at the forefront of that."

Flying in on Fernando express

George touches down in toasty Austria! pic.twitter.com/MEioUiEjfb
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 25, 2026

Russell himself has been overtaken in the drivers' standings by Hamilton in recent weeks, with the Mercedes driver now 50 points behind leader Antonelli after seven races.

That gap could have been even more had Antonelli not been forced to retire from second in Barcelona, with Austria the third of 10 races across Europe in the F1 calendar.

The season will pause after the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26 for a three-week summer break, and Russell is hoping to enter that period in a much stronger position.

"Spain was a weekend I was very happy about on Friday and Saturday, as it had been a tough run of form for me, but things outside my control and inside my control," he said.

"I need to keep on making some small evolutions with the car and the setup to get the most out of it. The win for the team is the priority, it doesn't matter which driver.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also echoed the thoughts of Russell on Ferrari's threat in both championships, describing last week's race as a "reality check".

Ferrari are set to introduce a power unit upgrade in Austria, with Wolff expecting another stern test against the Scuderia, who are 72 points adrift in the constructors' standings.

"Barcelona acted as a benchmark for our current performance and, having won the first six races, offered a reality check," Wolff said.

"Others have gained ground, and we need to respond. We are in a fight for both championships, but must improve if we want to come out on top come the end of the season."

DRIVERS TO WATCH

Max Verstappen – Red Bull

A difficult start to the 2026 season has seen Red Bull pick up just one podium, achieved by Verstappen in Canada, but he has often thrived in his team's home race.

No driver has recorded more victories at the Austrian Grand Prix than Verstappen's four. He also holds the records for the most podium finishes (six), pole positions (four) and fastest laps (four) at the event, though he has not won the race since 2023.

In fact, Verstappen has not stood on the top step of the podium since the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, but a top 10 finish in Austria will see him make history.

Verstappen is just one point away from surpassing 3,500 career points in F1. Only Hamilton (5,133.5) has previously reached that milestone ahead of the Dutchman, who currently sits on 3,499.5 points.

George Russell – Mercedes

Back-to-back finishes outside the points in Canada and Monaco have dented Russell's championship hopes, but after finishing second in Barcelona, the Briton will arrive in Austria, where he triumphed in 2023, with renewed confidence.

Russell has performed well in qualifying, too. He secured two of the last three positions, as many as he managed across the previous 18 races. He has the opportunity to claim consecutive poles for the second time in his F1 career.

He previously did so in Las Vegas and Qatar two years ago, and he will be hoping to repeat the trick here in what will be a milestone race with Mercedes.

After contesting his 100th grand prix for the Silver Arrows in Barcelona, Russell will draw level with Valtteri Bottas (101) as the driver with the third-most F1 starts for the team. Only Nico Rosberg (136) and Hamilton (246) are above him on that list.