Austrian Grand Prix FP1: Kimi Antonelli leads Mercedes one two, Oscar Piastri chases
F1 NewsFriday, 26 June 2026 at 14:30
Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli topped the first practice session for the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix with teammate George Russell in second while Oscar Piastri was third.
Antonelli went around the Red Bull ring in a lap time of 1:07.796, 0.040s faster than Russell in second and 0.117s faster than Piastri in third.
Mercedes emerged as the team to beat yet again with McLaren for now their closest challengers as Red Bull Racing hit reliability issues which meant they had limited running for their major upgrade.
However, Max Verstappen was fourth fastest, almost three tenths of the pace with Lewis Hamilton fifth fastest but 0.665s off Antonelli's time.
Verstappen had a shaky start with his car suffering from a software issue which meant it went into anti-stall every time he dropped the clutch. After two attempts and some work in the garage, he finally got going.
Charles Leclerc made way for Dino Beganovic in the other Ferrari the latter finishing the session ninth fastest, 1.258s off the best time.
Arvid Lindblad was sixth fastest in the Racing Bulls while Liam Lawson sat out FP1 with Ayumu Awasa taking over and finishing 15th fastest.
Lando Norris spent most of the session in the garage with hydraulic issues and just made it out on track in the final 15 minutes. He was sixth fastest over one second off the benchmark time.
Franco Colapinto was eighth fastest in the Alpine ahead of Beganovic in ninth with Oliver Bearman completing the top ten.
Isack Hadjar also spent a considerable time in the garage with a hydraulic issue as well and joined the action later finishing 12th fastest.
Buildup towards FP1
With Hamilton's Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix win behind us now and as we look to what he can do next, how Mercedes respond, where McLaren stand, and how home heroes Red Bull Racing fare with their latest upgrades.
Red Bull almost have a totally new RB22 this weekend, with new sidepod inlets, new engine cover, new floor, new floor board, new rear suspension with revised fairings, a new rear wing, and finally a revised tailpipe assembly.
Aside from Cadillac who also have a huge upgrade, other teams have some bits and pieces with Ferrari adding a new engine to their bits and while they downplayed the performance gains, it will be interesting to see how they perform.
Pirelli have brought their softest range of compounds this weekend with the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft) available.
The weekend has been declared a heat hazard so the cooling vests will be on order.
FP1 will also feature some rookies drivers:
- Ferrari - Dino Beganovic in for Charles Leclerc
- Racing Bulls - Ayumu Iwasa in for Liam Lawson
- Haas - Ryo Hirakawa in for Esteban Ocon
- Williams - Luke Browning in for Carlos Sainz
- Audi - Paul Aron in for Gabriel Bortoleto
- Aston Martin - Jak Crawford in for Lance Stroll
Mercedes had their diffuser protested by Ferrari and had to take it off their W17 after the FIA instructed them to do so.
On a final note, the FIA will be trying trying different rear lights colors to indicate MGUK power derating after initial tests in Canada and Barcelona.
The test will be run in FP1 and FP2 and the FIA will decide whether they keep it for the rest of the weekend tonight.
FP1 Session highlights
The session started in clear and hot conditions with track temperatures close to 50 degrees Celsius as air temperature was 30 degrees.
Drivers immediately lined up in the pitlane waiting for the green light at the end of the pitlane.
Norris and Hadjar, however, were going nowhere as both their cars were on the stands in the garage.
Norris reportedly suffering from a hydraulic leak as Hadjar's car seemed to be suffering from the same issue.
Soon Verstappen hit trouble and was stranded in the pitlane causing a Yellow in there.
"Every time I release the clutch I get anti-stall," the Dutchman radioed, suggesting a hydraulic issue.
📻 "Every time I release the clutch I get anti-stall"
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 26, 2026
Max Verstappen has stopped in the pit lane and is subsequently pushed back to the garage#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/e7ZZq9q4l8
Russell soon after complained about the throttle of his W17 radioing that it felt weird.
On the other hand, Antonelli locked up and ran wide at Turn 1.
A lock-up on the exit kerb for Kimi Antonelli sends him wide at Turn 1 😮💨💨 #F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/WZNx9UNR8I
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 26, 2026
There was a bit more drama as Hirakawa went deep into his pitbox and hit one of his mechanics.
Just as Red Bull Racing were putting back the floor on Hadjar's car, Verstappen tried to get out again but the problem did not seem to go away.
Max Verstappen comes to a halt in the pit lane once again! 🤯
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 26, 2026
There's something not quite right with both Red Bulls, with neither Max or Isack able to get out on track right now #F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/Ss8d6nlN1K
However, and soon after that failed launch, Verstappen finally managed to get going and completes a lap. 40 minutes from the end of the session.
He managed to post the third fastest time on Softs behind Antonelli and Russell who were first and second on Mediums.
With the session entering the second half, the Soft tyres were out as teams started doing some qualifying runs.
Antonelli 🆚 Russell
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 26, 2026
Onto the soft tyres the frontrunners go, with Antonelli setting a 1:07.796, and Russell then setting a time a tenth down 👀#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/HOYoArbm8I
Perez, on the other hand, was having issues with the body work and was called back into the pits.
Piastri was not happy with his brakes, he radioed: "I'm struggling quite a lot with these brakes, it feels like a lottery with how much pedal I have."
Hamilton also was not happy, reporting: "It's a real struggle at the moment." The Briton also had an off moment, but managed to survive that.
Verstappen also was struggling with his brakes, reporting that his car was shaking under braking.
With less than 25 minutes remaining from the session, Hadjar finally made his way out on track.
Gasly then had a moment at Turn 4 juggling understeer and oversteer.
Understeer becomes oversteer for Pierre Gasly at Turn 4! 💨
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 26, 2026
The drivers are now pushing the limits on the soft tyres at this stage of FP1 😮💨#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/MGZ9jIIrP5
With less than 15 minutes remaining, Norris finally made his way out of the McLaren garage.
In the dying moment of the session Perez brought the Red flag out as he parked his Cadillac in the middle of the track.
The session was not restarted after that.
🔴 RED FLAG 🔴
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 26, 2026
Sergio Perez's Cadillac has come to a stop in the braking zone of Turn 3, bringing FP1 to an end#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/8hg2nD5bUD
Austrian Grand Prix FP1 Classification
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