F1 – Summary and results of FP1 in Austria, what are Ferrari’s hopes? While all the top teams seem very close in race pace, Red Bull dominates the scene in the single lap. Let’s see what happened during the first and only practice session at the 4.318-kilometre Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.
As required in a Sprint Weekend, everyone quickly hits the track. It is crucial to make the most of the very little time available to test and, if necessary, adjust the balance of the cars. Among the top teams, Red Bull is the only one initially running on medium tires. All the others – McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari – are opting for the harder compounds.
In particular, McLaren will use this session for comparative tests: Lando Norris’ car is fitted with the old MCL38 wing, while Oscar Piastri’s car has a new front wing, with other small adjustments for airflow management towards the suspension. Ferrari, on the other hand, seems not yet on the ideal mapping: lagging behind the leaders, they are experiencing a lot of de-rating issues.
Problems for Max Verstappen
After the first twenty minutes, it’s time for the first setup changes. Sergio Perez, currently matching Max Verstappen’s times, complains of a lack of stability, indicating that the RB20 hasn’t yet found the ideal balance. In the Ferrari garage, work is being done on both cars: Charles Leclerc, in particular, complains of a lack of grip at low speeds. Meanwhile, top speed has improved.
Just as we were about to appreciate some race simulations, the red flag is waved. Max Verstappen stops on the main straight: the Dutchman, already at the limit with the used Power Units, received a warning on the dashboard, pulling over to the side of the track. However, a reset is enough to restart the RB20 and resume the session for #1.
Red Bull sets the pace
In the race simulation, it’s difficult to make judgments. It is clear that all the teams are following different programs, but what is certain is that Mercedes seems to appreciate the Austrian track a lot. Red Bull also performs very well, with Max Verstappen driving almost on rails. As for Ferrari, the times are in line with those of the W15, though there is still something to optimize.
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In the qualifying simulation, Max Verstappen flies, immediately setting a 1:05.685. There is nothing George Russell and Lando Norris can do, with the former blocked by traffic and the latter ending up in the gravel at Turn 4. The two Ferraris are further behind, completing their flying laps four-tenths off the Red Bull.
Final results from the first free practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix:
Source: f1ingenerale
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