FP1: Verstappen heads Piastri in sole opening practice at the Red Bull Ring

Championship runaway chief Max Verstappen set the benchmark within the sole one-hour follow session on the Austrian Grand Prix. F1Technical’s lead joirnalist experiences on Free Observe 1 from the Pink Bull Ring.

The outcomes point out that reigning world champion Max Verstappen had an ideal begin to his Austrian Grand Prix, albeit he had points to beat within the opening session. The Dutchman had a minor engine failure within the center a part of the session.

THe Dutchman’s RB20 conked out on the backside of the hill on the run as much as Flip 1, however he was in a position to roll his RB20 again to marshals, who pushed him again into the pitlane underneath a crimson flag. Verstappen then went on to set the benchmark time with a 1m05.685s on Pirelli’s gentle tyres.

Ferrari appeared to lack tempo within the opening a part of the session, however Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz took third and fourth respectively.

Lewis Hamilton ended the session in P5 after having led the sphere earlier than the qualifying simulation runs. The Briton refused to make use of the gentle compound, and spent the final section of the session by finishing a race simulation run on Pirelli’s arduous compound.

His team-mate George Russell additionally regarded mighty robust on the hards, however he didn’t full his flying lap on the red-walled tyres, and ended up eighth.

McLaren had a fairly session. Having struggled for tempo at Barcelona every week in the past, Oscar Piastri is in high type once more as he ended the session second, three tenths of a second behind Verstappen.

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