Verstappen bounces back to top Austrian GP practice
Max Verstappen showcased resilience and skill by topping the timesheets during Friday’s sole practice session ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver overcame a mid-session issue that saw him momentarily stop on track to ultimately lead McLaren's Oscar Piastri and the two Ferraris.
With the Sprint format activated for the third time this season, following events in China and Miami, drivers and teams were under pressure, as they had just one hour to acclimate to the Red Bull Ring and optimize their cars for Sprint Qualifying.
This urgency translated to extensive testing on Pirelli’s three chosen tyre compounds for the weekend: the hard C3, the medium C4, and the soft C5. These compounds represent the most aggressive combination from Pirelli’s 2024 range.
Mercedes initially set the early pace, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell clocking notable times on hard tyres. Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez followed closely on medium tyres. However, the session took a dramatic turn at the halfway mark when Verstappen’s car ground to a halt along the start/finish straight due to an “engine fault,” triggering red flags. This incident sparked concerns since Verstappen had recently moved onto his fourth power unit in Spain.
Fortunately, Red Bull quickly resolved the issue, and Verstappen was back on track, managing to gather crucial data ahead of Sprint Qualifying.
The session's last 10 minutes saw a rapid series of laps on soft tyres. Verstappen set the standard with a 1m 05.685s lap, distancing himself by a couple of tenths from Piastri. Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz followed in P3 and P4.
Mercedes fell down the timesheets, with Hamilton opting to stick with hard tyres. Meanwhile, Russell faced traffic issues in the middle sector, placing them fifth and eighth, respectively.
Esteban Ocon led the Alpine charge in sixth position, continuing a positive trend for the team. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, the aforementioned Russell, and Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda, who battled steering column issues, rounded out the top ten.
Read next ❯ Ferrari to reveal Hamilton's debut F1 car on February 19 at MaranelloFernando Alonso secured his spot within the top 10 for Aston Martin, with Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Perez following in 11th and 12th. Lando Norris was positioned 13th after a late promising lap on soft tyres was disrupted by a trip through the Turn 4 gravel.
The Sauber pair of Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas held P14 and P15, followed by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo. The Haas and Williams teams saw Nico Hulkenberg, Alex Albon, Kevin Magnussen, and Logan Sargeant filling out the lower positions.
Drivers and teams now turn their focus to the forthcoming Sprint Qualifying session, where strategies and quick reflexes will be paramount.
As teams regroup in the paddock, all eyes are on Verstappen's Red Bull as he continues to demonstrate why he’s the reigning world champion. With Sprint Qualifying around the corner, the Austrian GP weekend promises to deliver excitement and high-stakes competition.
