Spielberg friday report: McLaren lead the way as Verstappen runs without GP

Written by Elaina Russell

Credit: Red Bull Content Pool, Sam Bagnall, Sutton Images | Max Verstappen on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria

Friday at the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Austrian Grand Prix delivered a mix of rising heat, rapid laps, and unusual circumstances - most notably for Max Verstappen, who is without his long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, this weekend.

Lambiase’s absence, confirmed to be due to unforeseen personal circumstances, marks a rare disruption for the Dutchman’s race-weekend rhythm. Simon Rennie has stepped in to fill the role, but at a track as demanding and unforgiving as the Red Bull Ring, even subtle changes in communication can prove significant.

The circuit itself remains a unique challenge. At just ten corners and with a lap record of 1:02.939 set by Valtteri Bottas in 2020, the Red Bull Ring is the shortest by lap time on the calendar. Its sharp kerbs and blend of high-speed straights with technical low-speed corners stress vehicle suspension and tyre preparation - especially for teams prone to struggles in temperature management like Ferrari and Mercedes.

Free Practice One: Russell leads, rookies take the spotlight

Credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Zak Mauger | George Russell on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria

Free Practice One (FP1) took place under moderate track temperatures and high humidity. Ferrari and McLaren ran their Formula 2 drivers, with 19-year-old Alex Dunne replacing Lando Norris at McLaren, and Dino Beganovic stepping in for Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.

Dunne impressed immediately with a composed debut outing.

“This is definitely the best day of my life,” the Irishman said over the radio at the end of FP1.

Russell topped the timesheets ahead of Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, as Mercedes showed strong early pace. Haas and Red Bull encountered issues with braking, though nothing major was reported.

Free Practice Two: McLaren rise to the top

Credit: fia.com | Lando Norris prepares for FP2 at the Red Bull Ring

As the track heated up for FP2, McLaren emerged as the session’s strongest team - validating pre-weekend predictions that the track’s mixed characteristics would suit their upgraded package. Both Norris and Piastri looked competitive across all three tyre compounds (C3, C4 and C5), and ran notably low to the ground throughout.

Ferrari continued to struggle with braking consistency. Leclerc ran off at Turn 1 mid-session, while Mercedes and Aston Martin delivered another round of promising long-run data. Alpine remained anonymous and off the pace.

By the end of the session, Norris topped the timesheets, followed by Piastri and Verstappen. Notably, the C5 compound appeared to hold up well under current conditions. However, forecasts indicate a much hotter Sunday, which could significantly impact strategy.