F1 in Austria: It starts off interesting, then it goes the other way

It didn’t happen. In Friday’s practice sessions, Hamilton could do no better than fifth, behind the likes of Mercedes, Verstappen, and McLaren. On Saturday, Leclerc managed to beat him in the finish, finishing second in the group, with Hamilton third. Antonelli was fourth, having abandoned his last race after Verstappen crashed and brought out the yellow flag at turn nine.

Verstappen commands an army of followers.

Luca Martini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Verstappen commands an army of followers.

Luca Martini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton tried to stop Verstappen but could not.

Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton tried to stop Verstappen but could not.

Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Verstappen commands an army of followers.

Luca Martini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton tried to stop Verstappen but could not.

Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Ferraris did well to start the race, although the rocket-like advantage they had in the early races was long gone. But the luxury tires from Barcelona were gone, and all the red cars soon began to lose track of time. Hamilton finished fifth, with Leclerc further adrift in eighth. McLaren had a slightly slower time, finishing fourth (Oscar Piastri) and seventh (Lando Norris), with Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull sixth. Red Bull’s other F1 team, Racing Bulls, topped the rest by taking the final two places with Liam Lawson in ninth and Arvid Lindblad in 10th.

The race itself was similar to the old V10-era F1, at least after the first few laps. From then on, there was little action, with teams trying to use the tire track to overtake their rivals in the pits. That said, we saw a good battle between Verstappen and Hamilton, although it’s a bit of a win that could lead to the current hybrids.

To this end, the FIA, the teams, and the engine manufacturers have agreed on new scales between the V6 and the electric parts of the hybrid power units. For 2026, the V6 produces 536 hp (400 kW), and the electric motor also adds 469 hp (350 kW), but only if you have money in the battery, which is not very much.

Russell will pick up his second win of 2026.

Credit: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Next year, the line will be changed by 5 percent to 563 hp (420 kW), and in 2028, it will increase to 603 hp (450 kW). Meanwhile, the electric motor output drops to 402 hp (300 kW) next year. This means that hybrids will have a ratio of 58:42 in 2027, then a ratio of 60:40 in 2028 for the split between the V6 and the electric motor. However, the crossover remains at 469 hp, and the electric engine can harvest 375 kW in 2027 (from 350 kW now) and 400 kW in 2028.

An original system for re-engineering parts had proposed a 60:40 split next yearbut groups, including Audi, saw too soon and wanted a more comprehensive approach.