Formula 1 teams and drivers report from Friday practice day for the Austrian Grand Prix

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli topped both Friday practice sessions at the Austrian Grand Prix (Round 8 of the 2026 F1 World Championship) at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, with Mercedes edging McLaren throughout the day. Antonelli finished 0.040s ahead of teammate George Russell in FP1 and 0.237s clear of Oscar Piastri in FP2, with Lando Norris third despite hydraulic issues. Max Verstappen was fourth in both sessions for Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton fifth for Ferrari, while the day was disrupted by software problems for Verstappen and mechanical failures for Cadillac drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.