Max Verstappen led the 2024 Austrian GP Free Practice session with a 1:05.685. followed behind by Oscar Piastri with a 1:05.961 and Charles Leclerc with a 1:06.055.
The Austrian Grand Prix is home to the third sprint race of the season. There will be only one practice session, meaning this Friday session was vital for teams to gather data ahead of Sprint qualifying this afternoon.
The teams wasted no time getting out on track, all drivers out on medium or hard tyres for their first stints.
The First Laps
In the first few runs Hamilton on hard tyres put in the fastest lap, with a 1:06.925. Followed closely by teammate George Russell, only 0.088 behind.
After a close Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren will be looking to continue the momentum in Austria. They brought upgrades to Austria, and they’ll be looking to take another win this weekend.
Verstappen headed out and on medium tyres went 0.539 faster than the Mercedes of Hamilton. However, it was short-lived as the other Mercedes went faster with a 1:06.386.
Soon after, Hamilton crossing the line, going just 0.006 behind his teammate.
Austrian has some changed for 2024 with small gravel patches alongside the most common track limits areas. This aimed to solve the plethora of track limits issues F1 saw last year.
Throughout FP1, it seemed to make the track limits more self policing by having driver lose time and potentially damage their cars by going wide.
Ferrari had a tough weekend in Barcelona, Qualifying 5th and 6th and finishing in those positions.
With fighting on track and comments off track, the drivers have come to Barcelona admitting that it was just a usual driver argument. It is not uncommon for teammates to disagree, and this was a prime example of that.
However, Ferrari who faced a double DNF in Canada and a lack of pace in Barcelona, will want to come back strong in the second half of the triple header. With 36 minutes in FP1 to go, the two Ferrari drivers find themselves 6th and 7th. 0.647 and 0.733 off of the lead.
Red Flag Waved
At the halfway mark of the only Free Practice Session at Austria, the two Mercedes cars still led the way. With Hamilton ahead with a 1:06.254 and Russell close behind with a 1:06.386.
28 minutes left, Max Verstappen pulled to a stop at the side of the start finish straight. Complaints of an engine cut had Verstappen rolling back towards the access gate and into the pits.
He was rolled back into the garage, and the team began working on the car. This could’ve ended up being devastating for Red Bull if Verstappen needed another ICE or Engine, with him already hitting his allocation for these. If he took a new engine, he would face a 10 grid penalty.
However, the green flags were waved and Max Verstappen headed back out immediately. The issue was reportedly because of a faulty sensor. Red Bull hoping it’s an easy fix ahead of Sprint qualifying.
A close call moment between the Williams of Alex Albon and the V-CARB of Yuki Tsunoda. Albon moved to the side to let a Haas by but moved back towards the racing line just as Tsunoda went past. Luckily, both drivers avoided contact.
In the final 15 minutes of the session, the two Mercedes hold on to the top spots. Followed closely by the two Red Bulls.
The only teams out on the soft tyres with 10 minutes remaining were the Williams and Saubers. Teams who don’t think they’ll make it to Q2 or Q3 for the main race have taken the opportunity to run their extra set of red-lined tyres.
Lance Stroll put on a set of the soft tyres. The Canadian putting in a second fastest lap time with a 1:06.384.
Final Five Minutes
The Ferrari’s and Red Bull then headed out on a set of soft tyres for the final five minutes.
Charles Leclerc put in the fastest time of the session with a 1:06.055. Teammate Sainz slipping in 0.073 behind.
However, this was short-lived for the Ferrari’s, as Verstappen goes 0.370 faster with a 1:05.685. Piastri came next across the line to take second, 0.276 off Verstappen.
Norris was doing a faster first sector, but going deep had him backing out of the fast lap as he ran slightly through the gravel.
The Chequered Flag was waved. Max Verstappen with a 1:05.685 topping the session. followed behind by Oscar Piastri with a 1:05.961 and Charles Leclerc with a 1:06.055.
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