The third free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix offered some very interesting technical insights, especially with a view to qualifying. Analyzing the data from the best laps, several points emerge that deserve further analysis and already reveal some technical indications worth monitoring during the rest of the weekend. The reference drivers considered were Norris, Verstappen, Leclerc and Russell.
In the first half of the lap, up to turn 6, the gaps were minimal, with everyone within just a tenth, suggesting that after overnight setup changes and engine mapping adjustments, performance in corner entry and traction from slow turns has become much more even. This makes a detailed analysis of that section less relevant, except in a few cases. One of these is Charles Leclerc, who continues to struggle with turn 1, a tricky corner: right-hand, blind, uphill, with the track sloping outward, requiring great confidence from both axles. Ferrari seems to lack some rear grip here, and Leclerc loses almost one-tenth in that section. However, he makes up for it with a very effective braking into turn 4, a downhill corner with a progressive entry that allows better rear-end control and competitive braking compared to rivals. Top speeds were similar overall, with Max Verstappen leading thanks to Honda’s strong hybrid deployment—especially in altitude conditions—and Red Bull’s excellent DRS efficiency.
McLaren dominant at turn 6
The real difference, however, comes at turn 6. This is where McLaren shows its full strength. Lando Norris is by far the fastest, with Max Verstappen trailing 8 km/h behind. Charles Leclerc is another 3 km/h down, and Russell lags by 13 km/h. Aerodynamic load and corner-entry stability are key here, and only McLaren seems to have found the perfect setup.
From turn 7 onwards: Ferrari rises, Mercedes falls
After turn 6, the field compresses again somewhat, but the fast section from turn 7 to turn 10 reveals other important trends. Mercedes is the only team that falters: Russell registers a speed 12 km/h slower at turn 9, showing that the W15 struggles significantly under increasing lateral loads. In contrast, Ferrari emerges as the second-strongest team in this portion. Leclerc is just 0.027s behind Norris in the fast sector and even outperforms the Briton in the final two corners. The improvement appears to stem from the new floor, which seems to finally deliver the expected aerodynamic load. After overnight work to fine-tune the balance, Ferrari is now able to capitalize on it. It is no coincidence that Lewis Hamilton is also close to Charles Leclerc, confirming the SF-25 as competitive.
A very tight qualifying session ahead
All signs point to an extremely close qualifying, where every thousandth of a second could be decisive in making it through Q1 and Q2. In Q3, we’ll likely see drivers taking big risks, and it will all depend on who can find the absolute limit. McLaren is clearly the favorite, but a front-row lockout is not guaranteed. Verstappen appears to be their most credible rival, but Ferrari is much closer than expected. The goal for the Scuderia seems to be placing at least one driver on the second row and then trying to aim higher in the race, where their long-run pace could be strong. We’ll see what qualifying reveals.
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