Lewis Hamilton Warns of Red Bull Threat After Major Upgrade

Lewis Hamilton believes Red Bull Racing will become one of Formula 1's biggest threats over the coming races after the team's major upgrade package transformed the performance of the RB22 at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix.

Speaking to RacingNews365, Hamilton explained that Red Bull finally eliminated the remaining excess weight from its car, estimated to be around nine kilograms since the start of the season. Combined with additional aerodynamic developments, the upgrade immediately made the RB22 a genuine front-running contender.

"They made a huge step this weekend, and I think they must have brought a three-to-four tenth upgrade. Three-tenths was just from the weight that they dropped from the car, which is huge considering they were so close in some of the races, like Monaco, and they were nine kilos overweight," Hamilton told RacingNews365.

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The improvement was reflected in the performance of Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion was on course to challenge for pole position before spinning in Q3, then recovered from fifth on the grid to finish second. During the closing stages, Verstappen reduced a deficit of around 10 seconds to race leader George Russell to less than two seconds at the chequered flag.

Hamilton believes the Austrian weekend demonstrated that Red Bull had already possessed a fundamentally strong package before solving its weight issue. With the final kilograms removed, the RB22 is now capable of consistently challenging for victories across a wider variety of circuits.

"It is a good showing that they've got a good car, and they've lost the weight and then brought lots of upgrades; they're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the coming races," Hamilton added to RacingNews365.

Hamilton's assessment also highlights a changing competitive picture at the front of Formula 1. Mercedes returned to winning form in Austria, Ferrari continues searching for greater race pace, while Red Bull's development gains could significantly tighten the championship battle during the second half of the 2026 season as technical evolution increasingly determines the competitive order.