Black and white checkered flag – Second free practice is over
Lando Norris sets the fastest time in this practice with 1.04.580. Piastri is one and a half tenths behind Norris. Verstappen completes the top three with 1.04.898.
Remaining 3 min – Verstappen indicates again that he is having trouble with the front. The Dutchman has driven twelve laps on the soft tires and kept up with the pace of McLaren.
Remaining 11 min – All drivers are on the soft tires. More race simulations are now being done to see how the soft tire holds up on the hot circuit.
The biggest moment of the second free practice came from Leclerc. He briefly went through the gravel, but was able to get out on his own.
Remaining 19 min – Verstappen now sets a really fast lap, but gives away a good time in turn 19 by going slightly wide. He does set the third time: 1.04.898.
Remaining 23 min – Verstappen is driving on the soft tire, but he doesn’t get further than the seventh time: 1.05.404. He also complains about the tire, which works better on other cars.
Remaining 29 min – The difference between McLaren and the rest is, as usual, enormous. Norris and Piastri have a lead of three tenths over the rest.
Remaining 35 min – The drivers each choose their own tire strategy. The hard tire seems to be doing remarkably well.
This is the image we saw of Verstappen for a long time. Meanwhile, he has set the second time in this free practice.
Remaining 44 min – Oeh Leclerc goes straight through the gravel. A painful excursion for the Monegasque.
Remaining 47 min – Verstappen is finally out. The reason why it took him so long is not known.
Remaining 52 min – Piastri sets the fastest time for the first time today: 1.06.129. Antonelli is only 73 thousandths behind.
Remaining 57 min – Verstappen’s car is still in the pit box. There aren’t even any wheels on the car yet.
Green flag – We are underway at the second free practice. We will first see fast times and more race simulations in the second half.
The orange shirts are again very present in the stands.
The GP weekend in Austria always provides beautiful images.
We will see Lando Norris on the asphalt in Spielberg for the first time. In the first free practice, Alex Dunne took over his place. The Formula 2 driver set a strong fourth time.
Here are the times again:
Black and white checkered flag! End of first free practice
The man who made the most impression, Alex Dunne, set the fourth time in the first free practice. Russell was the fastest, with Verstappen and Piastri behind him.
Remaining 2 min – It seems to stay that way with the times, so Russell is going to have a very good start to this race weekend. Verstappen also has no reason to complain with the second time.
Remaining 7 min – All drivers are now on the soft tire (except Sainz), but no more improvements are being made. The light rain seems to evaporate quickly on the 36 degree warm asphalt.
Remaining 9 min – There are some drops, several drivers say. That will influence the rest of the free practice.
Remaining 13 min – Meanwhile, Dunne has simply gone to fourth place. A very good free practice from the Formula 2 youngster.
What would Christian Horner think of the times of Verstappen (2nd) and Tsunoda (16th)?
Remaining 20 min – Yellow flags again
Ocon shoots through in the first corner and has to get out of the gravel. He manages this independently, so the yellow flags disappear quickly again.
Remaining 22 min – Russell still has the fastest time: 1.05.542. 65 thousandths behind is now Verstappen, who set the fastest third sector.
Remaining 28 minutes – Yellow flags
Alonso has spun in turn 10, but seems to be able to continue. However, yellow flags are shown for a moment. He completely loses his car, while he had all the space and time. The tires were simply not warmed up yet.
Dunne drove with so-called aero rakes. These contain sensors that measure the airflows around the car.
Remaining 35 min – Sainz has nestled between the Mercedes in second place. He is two and a half tenths behind Russell.
Remaining 40 min – Dark clouds are gathering above the circuit in Austria. The asphalt temperature is still 44 degrees.
Remaining 44 min – The Mercedes have been the strongest in free practice so far. Russell has the fastest time with 1.06.139, two tenths ahead of Antonelli.
The ‘Orange Army’ is always present in Austria. Spielberg is almost a home race for Verstappen.
Remaining 48 min – Verstappen is having trouble controlling the front of the car, the Dutchman says on the board radio. The new updates may take some getting used to for Verstappen.
Remaining 50 min – All drivers are on medium or hard tires. Only Dunne is on softs.
Helmut Marko is present at the Grand Prix. It is his home race for the Austrian.
Remaining 55 min – Difficult start to the free practice for Verstappen, who brakes too late in the corner. There was a Williams in the way.
Remaining 57 min – We also miss Lando Norris in the first free practice. His place is taken by Alex Dunne.
Green flags – We are underway at the first free practice in Austria. Who sets the fastest time?
Verstappen will start the race weekend in Austria with a new floor. Later this will also be installed at Tsunoda.
Max Verstappen has arrived at the circuit in Spielberg in his shorts. With about 25 degrees, it is wonderful weather for the free practices.