George Russell of Mercedes topped the first practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix, narrowly edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by just 0.065 seconds. The practice session hinted at a competitive race weekend, with Russell’s performance following his recent comments about potential negotiations with Verstappen regarding a future drive with Mercedes.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured the third-fastest time, while 19-year-old Irish star Alex Dunne, making his grand prix debut in Lando Norris’ car, impressively clocked in just 0.069 seconds behind Piastri. Dunne is currently leading the Formula 2 championship and is part of McLaren’s young driver program, showcasing his potential on a larger stage.
Both McLaren and Red Bull came into this session with significant upgrades; McLaren introduced a new front suspension design to complement a new front wing first tested in Canada, while Red Bull presented a new floor edge for improved aerodynamics. Additionally, Ferrari, represented by Lewis Hamilton, managed to secure the ninth-fastest time with a completely redesigned floor, their first update since the Bahrain race in April.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly finished the session in fifth place, while Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz also performed well.
This practice session sets an exciting tone for the weekend, with several teams showcasing their upgrades and younger drivers making notable appearances. With ongoing discussions about driver movements, including the potential for Verstappen to join Mercedes, the dynamics of the race are shaping up to be very interesting.