GP d'Austria, George Russell the fastest in first free practice

British Mercedes driver George Russell was the fastest in the first free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring circuit.

The British driver George Russell was the fastest in the first free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring.

Second at just 65 milesimi was Red Bull’s Dutch four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Third and fourth are the two McLarens with world-leading Australian Oscar Piastri, 155 thousandths behind, and third Irish driver Alex Dunne, 224 thousandths behind, to whom Lando Norris gave way for this session.

The two McLarens were also in the lead.

Much trouble for the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton, ninth at 557 thousandths. On the other car of the Maranello manufacturer in place of Charles Leclerc came Swedish Dino Beganovic, 18th. Eleventh was Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes. At 5 p.m. the second free practice session.