After a relatively routine first practice session where Russell, Verstappen, and Piastri topped the times, all eyes were on FP2 of the 2025 Austrian GP to see how the field would evolve. With both Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc making their first appearances of the weekend after sitting out FP1 for rookie duties, how would the session shake out?
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First 20 Minutes
The first third of the session saw the big names quickly rise to the top. Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri were right back in the mix, joined by Carlos Sainz and George Russell to form a tightly packed Top 5. All of them were within 0.5s of each other.
Leclerc, meanwhile, made his presence known for both the right and wrong reasons. Multiple off-track moments, including lockups, a trip through the gravel, and across the grass, had the Ferrari looking on edge. Still, pace-wise, both red cars weren’t far off the mark, climbing to P4 and P5.
Lewis Hamilton was noted for impeding Kimi Antonelli, which was referred for investigation after the session.
Mid-Session
As the session entered its middle phase, Mercedes continued to show promise. Russell slotted into P2 with about 37 minutes to go, while Antonelli pushed his way to P5.
But the real intrigue? The Saubers. Nico Hulkenberg broke into P9, and Gabriel Bortoleto moved up to P15. A result that had fans asking if we were seeing genuine pace or just a little practice-day smoke and mirrors.
McLaren then decided to show their pace. Norris and Piastri delivered the day’s most eye-catching laps on soft tires, with Norris dropping a 1:04.580. That time held until the end and left the rest of the field over 0.4s behind.
Yuki Tsunoda had a brief moment of glory, sneaking ahead of Verstappen into P5. But with Max only putting in 24 laps, it was clear Red Bull wasn’t showing all their cards.
Final 20 Minutes
With about 15 minutes to go in the 2025 Austrian GP FP2 session, the timing sheets stayed a little frozen. Teams switched into long-run mode, collecting data rather than chasing lap times.
Notably, three rookies, Antonelli, Isaac Hadjar, and Bortoleto, showed some composure and consistency across the session. Bortoleto’s P8 finish was particularly eye-catching to fans and commentators alike.
Post Session
After the session, Norris was caught for a quick F1 TV interview. He emphasized how strong the car felt overall, but highlighted the high-fuel runs as the true standout. Norris believed those runs were more representative of a car’s potential and much better for gathering data.
The Red Bulls ran light, the Ferraris looked nervous, Mercedes is figuring out their car, and the McLarens? They looked dialed in. Could this be the start of a big weekend for the papaya crew?
The 2025 Austrian GP FP3 session goes green tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. track time.
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Feature Image Credit: EverythingF1
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