Mercedes lead scorching FP1 at 2026 Austrian Grand Prix

The opening practice session of the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix delivered a telling first look at the competitive order at the Red Bull Ring, with extreme heat, reliability gremlins and rookie outings shaping a busy FP1. On a blisteringly hot afternoon in Spielberg, where track temperatures peaked above 50°C, Mercedes emerged as the early benchmark as Kimi Antonelli led a team one-two ahead of George Russell.

Mercedes Set the Pace in Scorching Conditions

Antonelli’s pace was particularly impressive given a small lock-up earlier in the session that left him managing a flat spot. Despite that, the championship leader controlled the session once the soft tyres were bolted on, underlining both his confidence and Mercedes’ ability to manage tyre temperatures in extreme heat.

McLaren Close, but Norris Compromised

McLaren left FP1 with mixed emotions. Oscar Piastri emerged as Mercedes’ closest challenger, finishing third just 0.117s off Antonelli’s time after a clean soft-tyre run. The Australian also showed solid long-run consistency, keeping McLaren firmly in the conversation for the weekend.

Lando Norris, however, endured a far more disrupted session. A suspected hydraulics issue delayed his running significantly, and just as he attempted a late soft-tyre push, Sergio Perez’s stoppage brought out the red flags. Norris ended FP1 in seventh, having never completed a representative lap on the C5 compound. Given his strong record at the Red Bull Ring, McLaren will be hoping FP2 offers a clearer picture.

Red Bull Struggle at Home

It was a frustrating start to the home race weekend for Red Bull Racing. Max Verstappen was repeatedly hampered by anti-stall issues, stopping both in the pit lane and on track during the session. Despite the lost running, Verstappen still managed to salvage fourth place, just under three tenths off the lead, suggesting underlying pace remains.

Isack Hadjar’s session was even more challenging. Limited running and balance issues left the rookie visibly frustrated over the radio, admitting, “I don’t understand the balance at all… it’s a mess.” He finished 12th, over 1.6s adrift of Antonelli, though Red Bull’s focus will be on fixing reliability before chasing outright performance.

Ferrari and the Rookies in Focus

Ferrari’s headline lap came from Lewis Hamilton, who finished fifth on his first soft-tyre run. While 0.665s off the lead, Hamilton’s pace was respectable given the team’s decision to run Dino Beganovic in FP1. The rookie impressed quietly with ninth place, completing his programme cleanly and gathering valuable data ahead of Charles Leclerc’s return later in the weekend.

Elsewhere, Arvid Lindblad caught the eye with sixth for Racing Bulls, continuing a strong run of Friday performances. Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman also featured inside the top 10, while Williams rookie Luke Browning had a scrappy session marked by a lock-up and flat-spotted tyres.

Perez Brings FP1 to a Halt

The session ended under red flags after Sergio Perez stopped out on track for the second time, compounding a difficult FP1 for Cadillac despite a hefty upgrade package. Perez was classified 21st and will be hoping for a smoother run in FP2.

Early Takeaways Ahead of FP2

With conditions expected to cool slightly later in the day, FP1 offered valuable insights into tyre behaviour rather than definitive performance. Mercedes look formidable, McLaren are close, and Red Bull remain an unknown due to lost mileage. As teams refine their setups and address reliability concerns, FP2 should provide a clearer indication of the true pecking order heading into qualifying.