Antonelli tops both Austrian GP Friday practices; Russell sixth
8 reported
World championship leader Kimi Antonelli completed a Friday practice double at the Austrian Grand Prix, topping both sessions at the Red Bull Ring. In the second practice, the 19-year-old Italian set a time of 1:07.014s, finishing 0.237 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. His Mercedes teammate George Russell finished sixth, more than six tenths behind Antonelli. Max Verstappen was fourth in his upgraded Red Bull, half a second off the pace, ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. The session also saw issues for Cadillac, with Sergio Perez stopping on track and Valtteri Bottas’s car catching fire in the pit lane. Russell expressed concern about McLaren’s pace, while Piastri said McLaren was “a step behind” Mercedes. Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok suggested Russell might have “worried thoughts” after the session.
What’s reported
Kimi Antonelli topped both Friday practice sessions at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Antonelli’s best time in Practice Two was 1:07.014s, 0.237s ahead of Oscar Piastri.
George Russell finished sixth, more than six tenths behind Antonelli.
Max Verstappen was fourth, half a second off the pace.
Cadillac’s Sergio Perez stopped on track; Valtteri Bottas’s car caught fire in the pit lane.
Russell said McLaren looked “flying” in Practice Two and expressed concern about their pace.
Piastri said McLaren was “a step behind” Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok said Russell might have “worried thoughts” after the session.
Key figures
Kimi Antonelli: Mercedes driver, world championship leader
George Russell: Mercedes driver
Oscar Piastri: McLaren driver
Lando Norris: McLaren driver
Max Verstappen: Red Bull driver
Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver
Isack Hadjar: Red Bull driver
Charles Leclerc: Ferrari driver
Liam Lawson: Racing Bulls driver
Gabriel Bortoleto: Audi driver
Sergio Perez: Cadillac driver
Valtteri Bottas: Cadillac driver
Karun Chandhok: Sky Sports F1 analyst
Sources: Sky Sports
