Kimi Antonelli set the pace for Mercedes during Friday’s practice sessions at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix, topping the timesheets in both FP1 and FP2. His strong performance highlighted Mercedes’ competitive speed at the Red Bull Ring, while teammate George Russell showed solid pace despite a less clean lap in the second session. The team noted challenges with tyre management and cooling in the hot and high-altitude conditions.
McLaren encountered a setback in FP1 due to a hydraulic leak that delayed Lando Norris, but Oscar Piastri maintained consistent speed, finishing second fastest in FP2. The team decided not to run an experimental wing after assessing its performance. Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing faced reliability issues with engine changes and anti-stall problems affecting Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. Both drivers found the car difficult to handle, particularly around Turn 3, though longer runs suggested potential for improvement.
Ferrari struggled to match Mercedes’ pace in the heat, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both searching for better setup solutions. Rookie Dino Beganovic stepped in for Leclerc during FP1 and delivered a solid performance. Racing Bulls had a productive day, with Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson showing good speed, though braking and balance remained areas to refine.
Haas concentrated on data collection and testing upgrades, with Oliver Bearman having a positive start. Esteban Ocon was catching up after missing FP1, and Ryō Hirakawa made his first appearance in the car. Alpine introduced new parts and gathered mixed results from Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, with the heat affecting performance. The team aims to reach Q3 and secure points. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto missed FP1, with Paul Aron stepping in, but Bortoleto managed a top-10 time in FP2. Nico Hulkenberg completed extensive laps while testing updates.
Williams faced a challenging day, with Luke Browning debuting the FW48 in FP1, while Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon struggled with pace and reliability. Aston Martin ran Jak Crawford in FP1 and Fernando Alonso in FP2 without bringing upgrades, anticipating a tough weekend. Cadillac introduced a significant upgrade package; Valtteri Bottas showed progress but experienced a fire in FP2, and Sergio Perez faced repeated power issues limiting his running.
Pirelli expects the race to require two pit stops due to high tyre degradation from the heat and abrasive track surface. Soft tyres performed well in short runs, but data on long stints with the red compound remains limited. Teams will use the overnight analysis to refine their approaches for qualifying and the race.
