Italian rookie Antonelli led first practice at the Austrian Grand Prix, posting a 1:07.796 lap on soft tyres to edge teammate George Russell by 0.04 seconds. Russell opened the session with a 1:09.898 medium lap before improving to 1:07.836, but the Mercedes pair finished nearly a second clear of Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad. The hot conditions amplified tyre degradation, making Antonelli’s pace notable.

Reigning champion Lando Norris lost thirty minutes of running after a hydraulic leak forced his McLaren MCL40 to sit idle until the final quarter of the session. Oscar Piastri managed a 1:07.913 lap to claim third, just 0.117 behind Antonelli, while Max Verstappen, hampered by clutch concerns, recovered to fourth despite struggling for grip on the revised RB22. And his team worked quickly to resolve the issue.

Mercedes’ strong showing placed both drivers in the top two, reinforcing the team’s momentum as they chase Ferrari and Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton improved to fifth in the Ferrari, while rookie Racing Bulls driver Lindblad held sixth. The session also featured rookie highlights, with Dino Beganovic fastest among newcomers and several drivers filling seats. Teams now have a gauge of tyre performance ahead of qualifying.