Antonelli Leads Mercedes 1-2 in Austrian Grand Prix FP1

Kimi Antonelli laid down an early marker at the Austrian Grand Prix by topping the timesheets in Free Practice 1, narrowly edging out Mercedes team-mate George Russell to secure a Silver Arrows one-two. Oscar Piastri placed third for McLaren, while Red Bull endured a disrupted session despite Max Verstappen salvaging fourth.

Why it matters:

As the championship leader, Antonelli's strong start at the Red Bull Ring sends an immediate signal to his rivals that Mercedes remains the team to beat. The session also offered teams a valuable opportunity to gather data on the 2026 regulations at a track known for its high-speed demands and short lap times, setting the tone for the rest of the weekend.

The details:

• Antonelli posted the fastest time of the session to lead a Mercedes 1-2, finishing just ahead of Russell at the top of the order.
• Oscar Piastri ended the session in third for McLaren, continuing the team's strong form this season.
• Red Bull suffered a difficult opening half-hour with technical issues, though Max Verstappen recovered to set the fourth-best time.
• Lewis Hamilton was fifth in the leading Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc stepped aside to allow Ferrari junior Dino Beganovic to take the wheel.
• Beganovic finished ninth, making him the highest-placed substitute driver among the several rookies participating in the session.

What's next:

Teams now face a tight turnaround to analyze data ahead of the remaining practice sessions and qualifying. With Mercedes showing strong one-lap pace and McLaren close behind, the battle for the front row is expected to be fierce. Ferrari and Red Bull will need to find answers quickly if they hope to disrupt the early dominance of the Silver Arrows.