Lando Norris continued to showcase impressive form during final practice at the Austrian Grand Prix, significantly outpacing his teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris clocked a fast lap of 1:04.324, setting a time that was 0.118 seconds quicker than Piastri, cementing McLaren’s strong performance over the weekend.
This session followed Norris’s absence in the first practice session due to McLaren’s obligation to have a rookie drive, and he has effectively bounced back from a challenging performance in Canada where he collided with Piastri and ultimately retired from the race. His current speed has helped narrow the gap in points, where Piastri currently leads him by 22.
Max Verstappen from Red Bull secured third on the timesheet but struggled with a two-tenths gap to Norris, compounded by handling issues that resulted in a late spin. Despite the challenges, Verstappen’s capability to perform under pressure makes the qualifying sessions with McLaren promisingly competitive.
Ferrari’s duo, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, closed out the top five, finding improvements from their previous sessions with upgraded car components. Notably, Piastri faced setbacks as well; he sustained floor damage after hitting the gravel, which required quick repairs using a glue gun.
George Russell, who had previously achieved pole position and victory in Canada, found himself further back in sixth, almost seven-tenths of a second slower than Norris. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli followed closely in seventh.
While Norris’s performance in practice has been commendable, previous races have shown that potential mistakes can affect his qualifying results. Both he and Piastri need to maintain focus to capitalize on their car’s speed.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto also had strong showings, finishing within the top 10 and entering qualifying with optimism.
As the teams prepare for the crucial qualifying session, the battle between the McLarens and Verstappen is expected to be a highlight of the weekend.
With the Austrian Grand Prix quickly approaching, fans can look forward to a thrilling spectacle.