Balance among the top teams: FP1 analysis from the Austrian GP
The Austrian Grand Prix weekend begins with a regular and intense session, with many teams testing the numerous updates brought to the track on a short yet technically demanding circuit. Ferrari debuted its new floor, McLaren continued work on suspension and wing development, while Red Bull introduced changes to the rear floor edges. Mercedes, after its major rear suspension update, focused on optimizing cooling—crucial at the Austrian circuit due to the combination of altitude and warm temperatures.
Mercedes leads thanks to strong stop-and-go performance
The first sector clearly favors the Mercedes W16, with heavy braking and traction zones both uphill to Turn 3 and downhill to Turn 4. With track temperatures dropping by over 5°C due to cloud cover, the car found ideal conditions to maximize its potential.
Gap analysis shows Max Verstappen initially ahead but losing ground during the braking zones—Red Bull’s weak point today. Both the Dutchman and McLaren’s Piastri fall behind in these areas. However, Red Bull maintains top speed advantage, once again showcasing aerodynamic efficiency, possibly from well-tuned stalling effects between DRS and setup.
Red Bull shows strong potential, but brake concerns remain—Sector 3 is key strength
Gaps remain minimal due to the short lap and few corners. Verstappen shows particular difficulty braking into Turn 6, overshooting the ideal line. The issue likely stems from brake setup and longitudinal suspension tuning, affecting weight transfers and car response—something Verstappen described over radio as “weird.”
Despite this, RB20 shows solid potential. The car behaves excellently under lateral loads in high-speed sections, especially in Sector 3. There, Max Verstappen exploits the car’s stiffness and high downforce to attack confidently, particularly through the final two downhill right-handers.
At Turn 9, Max Verstappen brakes later and arrives faster than both George Russell and Oscar Piastri. At Turn 10, his minimum speed matches the others, but he manages to get back on the throttle earlier, securing better traction. This deadly combination is worth over a tenth and places him just behind George Russell at the finish line.
McLaren working quietly
It was a solid session for McLaren, with Oscar Piastri finishing third, close to the top two. Data shows slight braking performance deficits, which is not surprising given the McLaren’s tricky front end. The team will likely focus on this area in future sessions. Despite arriving quickly at the final corner, Oscar Piastri manages early throttle application. Overall, the car appears well balanced, and the team concentrated on data collection and comparison of new components.
Ferrari analysing updates but facing technical issues
Ferrari followed a similar data-heavy approach but suffered setbacks, notably a hydraulic gearbox issue on Hamilton’s car, which limited long runs and data acquisition. As a result, Ferrari’s performance is hard to judge. The team awaits FP2 to better understand the competitiveness of the new floor, designed to deliver more downforce and a measurable step forward.
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