Mercedes driver George Russell set the pace in Free Practice 1 at the Austrian Grand Prix, but McLaren’s young star Alex Dunne stole the show, finishing P4.
The Mercedes driver posted a 1:05.542 to lead the session, narrowly ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, while Dunne, the Formula 2 Championship leader, lapped within a tenth of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the upgraded MCL39.
The Irish rookie, standing in for Lando Norris, delivered a flawless performance, just 0.224 seconds off Russell’s benchmark. “It’s a dream come true,” Dunne said, despite battling chaotic team radio with multiple voices overlapping. McLaren showcased front suspension and rear corner upgrades, boosting their pace at the Red Bull Ring.
Mercedes, riding momentum from Russell’s Canadian GP win and a double podium, introduced a redesigned engine cover and brake duct inlet for the circuit’s demands. “The car feels strong,” Russell noted, though he later reported “a few rain drops” as clouds loomed.
Ferrari faced setbacks. Lewis Hamilton, testing a new SF-25 floor and diffuser, suffered a gearbox issue, briefly halting his session. “We lost valuable time,” Hamilton said, though quick repairs got him back on track. Ferrari junior Dino Beganovic, subbing for Carlos Sainz, also dealt with floor issues but completed the session.
Red Bull brought floor upgrades but struggled. Verstappen, guided by substitute race engineer Simon Rennie due to Gianpiero Lambiase’s absence, ran off at Turn 1, waving in frustration. Racing Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda slid off at Turn 3.
Aston Martin had a tough session, with Fernando Alonso spinning at the final turn, costing him soft tires. “That was the worst out-lap possible,” Alonso quipped. “Good to get it out in FP1.”
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, despite front-locking issues, briefly held P2 but finished P11. Alpine and Kick Sauber impressed, with Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto in the top six.
With a Thursday extreme weather warning in mind, only light drizzle appeared. Russell led Verstappen, Piastri, and Dunne, whose standout debut turned heads. “Alex drove flawlessly,” McLaren’s team principal said, signaling a bright future.
The Austrian Grand Prix unfolds over 71 laps of the 4.318-kilometer Red Bull Ring this Sunday, with teams refining their upgrades for the battle ahead.
Austrian Grand Prix FP1 Results
1 George Russell Mercedes 1:05.542
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.065
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.155
4 Alexander Dunne McLaren +0.224
5 Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.238
6 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber +0.332
7 Alexander Albon Williams +0.404
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.475
9 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.557
10 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.568
11 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.588
12 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber +0.598
13 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.618
14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.628
15 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.647
16 Franco Colapinto Alpine +0.704
17 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing +0.720
18 Dino Beganovic Ferrari +0.827
19 Esteban Ocon Haas F1 Team +0.968
20 Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team +1.196
