Kimi Antonelli set the pace in practice for the Austrian Grand Prix, topping both sessions at the Red Bull Ring, while Spain’s Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso had a difficult Friday near the back of the field.
A scorching Spielberg
Teams faced unusually high temperatures, with 32°C in the air and 51°C on the track, making tyre management a major issue from the first laps.
Antonelli in control
The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, leading the championship, bounced back from a reliability-related retirement in Barcelona with a commanding performance. He was fastest in both sessions and finished more than six tenths of a second ahead of his team-mate George Russell.
McLaren closest
McLaren looked like Mercedes’ nearest challengers. Oscar Piastri was second, about two tenths behind, with world champion Lando Norris third, three tenths off the pace.
Verstappen’s difficult day
Max Verstappen had a frustrating Friday at Red Bull’s home circuit. His car stopped twice in the first session, interrupting his programme. After asking for a change to his seating position in the afternoon, he finished fourth, around half a second behind Antonelli.
Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, coming off a win in Barcelona, and Charles Leclerc both made small mistakes that cost them time, leaving Ferrari with work to do before qualifying.
Sainz and Alonso at the back
Neither Williams nor Aston Martin brought upgrades to Austria, and it showed. Carlos Sainz finished 18th, around two seconds off the pace, and Fernando Alonso 19th, three and a half seconds behind. Only Lance Stroll and the two Cadillac cars were slower.
Cadillac’s troubled upgrade
The new Cadillac team had announced a major upgrade package, with a new floor, diffuser, sidepods, engine cover and other parts. But the day went badly: one car stopped twice and the other suffered a fire in the garage. Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez will hope for a better Saturday.
What to expect
On Friday’s evidence, Antonelli is the favourite for pole and the race, with McLaren the most likely challengers. For Spanish fans, the outlook is less encouraging: Sainz and Alonso face a weekend of damage limitation.
