F1, Austrian GP: Max Verstappen the fastest in free practice, then Piastri and Leclerc

F1, Austrian GP: Max Verstappen the fastest of free practice, then Piastri and Leclerc

Max Verstappen soars in the first and only free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix. Despite a power-unit-related problem mid-session that forced him to stay in the pits for a few minutes, the three-time world champion finished ahead of everyone, stopping the clock on 1'05"685, 276 thousandths ahead of Oscar Piastri's McLaren.

Third and fourth place for the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Who impressed è Lewis Hamilton, fifth with Mercedes, who realized his best time on hard tires. Sixth place went to the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, while in seventh was the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll.

Completing the top 10 are the other Mercedes of George Russell, eighth, the Racing Bulls of Yuki Tsunoda, ninth, and the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso. Only thirteenth was Lando Norris, author of a mistake in the finale that prevented him from occupying the top of the standings.

F1, Austrian GP, the times of FP1:

1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:05.685 (S)

2 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:05.961 (S)

3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:06.055 (S)

4 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:06.128 (S)

5 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:06.254 (H)

6 Esteban Ocon Alpine 1:06.297 (S)

7 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1:06.384 (S)

8 George Russell Mercedes 1:06.386 (H)

9 Yuki Tsunoda Racing Bulls 1:06.579 (S)

10 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:06.603 (S)

11 Pierre Gasly Alpine 1:06.734 (S)

12 Sergio Perez Red Bull 1:06.783 (M)

13 Lando Norris McLaren 1:06.880 (H)

14 Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber 1:06.919 (S)

15 Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber 1:06.925 (S)

16 Daniel Ricciardo Racing Bulls 1:06.962 (S)

17 Nico Hulkenberg Haas 1:06.966 (S)

18 Alexander Albon Williams 1:06.995 (M)

19 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:07.145 (S)

20 Logan Sargeant Williams 1:07.259 (M)