Austrian Grand Prix – Norris tops FP2 as McLaren shines, rookie dunne impresses
McLaren Dominates FP2 as Lando Norris Leads One-Two Finish at Austrian Grand Prix
McLaren’s Lando Norris showcased his skill by leading teammate Oscar Piastri in a one-two finish during the second practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix, marking an impressive day for the team. Meanwhile, Mercedes' George Russell topped the timesheets in FP1.
Norris clocked the quickest lap of the day with a time of 1:04.580, narrowly edging out Piastri by 0.157 seconds. Reigning champion Max Verstappen, fresh off his success at his team’s home circuit in Spielberg, trailed the McLarens in third with a time of 1:04.898, the only other driver to break the 1:05 barrier.
Russell Shines in FP1 but Slips in FP2
The day began with Russell leading FP1 with a best lap of 1:05.542, but by FP2, the Mercedes team drifted further down, with the British driver ending sixth. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll surprised many with a strong fourth-place finish, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fifth.
Alex Dunne Impresses in FP1 Debut
Irish teenager and Formula 2 sensation Alex Dunne made waves in FP1 as he stepped in for Norris, fulfilling McLaren’s obligation to give rookie drivers F1 experience. The 19-year-old finished an impressive fourth, just 0.069 seconds behind Piastri, and became the first Irish driver in over two decades to participate in a Grand Prix weekend.
As the checkered flag fell, an elated Dunne commended McLaren for trusting him with the opportunity:
"A little boy's dream came true, and this is definitely the best day of my life. Thank you everyone for letting me do this, and thanks to Lando as well for trusting me with his car."
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella tempered the excitement, emphasizing the context of Dunne’s quick lap:
"Alex has been quite diligent and impressive, and then he also had the chance to show some speed. No surprise, he is a fast driver. That said, we need to be cautious about reading too much into his lap times, as his fastest lap came when the fuel load was lower. But overall, it’s encouraging and impressive."
Verstappen Adjusts to Temporary Engineer Change
Max Verstappen’s weekend kicked off with an unusual adjustment. His regular race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, was absent due to personal reasons, with Simon Rennie stepping in as a substitute. Nevertheless, the Red Bull driver looked consistent, albeit not unbeatable.
While Verstappen remains the favorite at the Red Bull Ring—where he has claimed five career victories—the McLaren duo’s performance in practice hints at fierce competition ahead.
Ferrari Faces an Uphill Battle
Ferrari faced an uphill battle during Friday’s sessions, with mechanics seen working extensively on both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz’s cars during FP1. Leclerc, who sat out the opening session to allow Swedish reserve driver Dino Beganovic some track time, finished fifth in FP2. Beganovic ended FP1 in 18th place, gaining valuable experience in his F1 debut.
Alonso Spins and Hamilton Struggles
Elsewhere, Fernando Alonso suffered a dramatic spin in his Aston Martin but managed to avoid significant damage.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton struggled to make a significant impact, finishing ninth and tenth across the two sessions. He also found himself under the stewards' watchful eye after being warned for impeding Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli.
"I didn't see Antonelli," Hamilton clarified over the team radio after the Italian driver went wide to avoid contact.
A Closer Field and Exciting Weekend Ahead
Austria’s short lap distances brought the field closer together, with just over a second separating Russell’s FP1 benchmark from the back of the grid (20th-place Haas driver Oliver Bearman). This sets the stage for an exciting weekend as teams continue to fine-tune their setups on the challenging Red Bull Ring.
As Friday wraps up, McLaren appears revitalized, while Verstappen and Red Bull continue to adapt to their lineup shuffle. The stage is set for a thrilling qualifying session on Saturday that could reshape the grid’s pecking order. Stay tuned as the Austrian Grand Prix unfolds.
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