Spielberg GP under heat warning: Mercedes sees Hamilton as a threat, Formula 1 braces for 36 degrees

But the focus of the weekend is not only on the weather. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff spoke after Barcelona of a "Realitätscheck" – in keeping with the original German word – and pointed out that both Mercedes cars had previously retired this season due to battery issues. For the race in Spielberg, Ferrari has brought an improved engine, Mercedes wants to further increase reliability and performance. Wolff also warned of Lewis Hamilton, who is regarded as the biggest challenger after his Barcelona victory.

Antonelli leads, Hamilton lurks

The Briton Hamilton, who had celebrated his first win in Barcelona after 686 days without success and his first triumph for Ferrari, had previously finished second in Monaco and Montreal. With 115 points, he sits in the drivers' standings behind Antonelli, who leads with 156 points. George Russell, Hamilton's former teammate, is third with 106 points and had won the season opener in Melbourne.

Antonelli, championship leader and with five wins from seven rounds the dominant driver of the first phase of the season, appeared relaxed beforehand. Asked about the heat, the 19-year-old Italian said according to APA: "Ich bin Italiener, deswegen bin ich dieses Wetter gewohnt". However, he voluntarily forgoes the actually permitted cooling vest under his racing suit. "Jedes Mal, wenn ich diese Weste benutzt habe, hat es nicht so gut funktioniert. Danach war ich ziemlich fertig", he explained.

Cooling vests: divided reaction in the paddock

The cooling system that the FIA permits under this heat warning pumps a cooled glycol liquid through fine tubes in a special shirt under the racing suit. Those who use it must carry 0.5 kilograms of ballast in the cockpit as a weight balance. Drivers may use the system voluntarily; this season, after Singapore and Austin in October 2024, it is only the third time it has been permitted.

The drivers are divided in their assessments, however. Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar said the cooling only helps for about ten minutes: "Es hilft wirklich gut, für zehn Minuten. Dann ist es wieder warm". His teammate Max Verstappen, who with five wins is the record holder in Spielberg and this season has only managed one podium finish in Montreal, only wants to wear an ice vest before getting in and said: "Es ist heiß, aber es ist okay." Oscar Piastri, whose McLaren team had dominated Spielberg in 2025 with a one-two through Lando Norris and himself, was more matter-of-fact: "Wenn das System gut funktioniert, kann es ein wenig helfen", said the Australian, who had prepared with sauna sessions.

McLaren nevertheless goes into the eighth race of the season as one of the favorites. Norris had most recently won the sprint in Miami and had become world champion in Spielberg last year. Red Bull has also brought updates for the RB22, and Alpine as well as Racing Bulls had impressed in Barcelona with both cars in the points.

Logistics and spectators in focus

Alongside the technical and sporting program, logistical questions are the main focus in Spielberg. The organizers again expect around 300,000 visitors over four days, after a similar figure had been reached the previous year. For those traveling from Vienna, Lower Austria, Salzburg and Styria, regional buses run to 120 stations over the weekend; however, the S6 expressway through the Semmering is only single-lane passable around the race weekend.

For spectators on the uncovered grandstands, the heat is the biggest challenge. The organizers recommend head coverings and offer free water dispensers, water mist systems behind all grandstands and sunscreen. Plastic bottles, drink cans and thermos flasks up to 1.5 liters are permitted, while glass containers and alcohol are prohibited.

A look at the circuit and the program

In the background, the scene is also looking at the history of the circuit: in the past four years, four different drivers from four different teams have won in Spielberg. The heat record for a Formula 1 race is 42.5 degrees Celsius, set in 2005 in Bahrain – a figure that will not be reached in Styria, but still shapes the character of the weekend. Former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger expressed his conviction in conversation with APA: "Mercedes wird wieder relativ schnell zeigen, wer der Herr im Haus ist."

The eighth Grand Prix of the season starts on Sunday at 15:00 and is run over 71 laps. The race will be broadcast live on ServusTV and Sky. The schedule begins on Thursday with media day, Friday features two free practice sessions, Saturday is followed by a third practice and qualifying at 16:00. Formula 3, Formula 2 and the Porsche Supercup will serve as support races.

While the teams put together their cooling and update packages, the focus in Formula 1 over the weekend is increasingly turning to Mercedes' performance development. Wolff spoke of a "Realitätscheck" in Barcelona – the home race in Spielberg is now set to show whether the Stuttgart-based team have actually turned the corner. The FIA heat warning does not make the task any easier.