- Max Verstappen tops the time charts despite mid-session issues.
- Oscar Piastri impresses by slotting into second place.
- Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secure third and fourth.
- Lewis Hamilton takes fifth as Mercedes looks promising.
- The session sees unexpected standings with notable ups and downs.
Max Verstappen led the pack during the first practice session at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix. Setting the pace with his fastest lap on soft tires, Verstappen was 0.276 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. However, Verstappen’s session wasn’t smooth sailing. He dramatically slowed to a halt on the main straight halfway through due to a sensor issue. Despite this hiccup, the reigning F1 World Champion quickly returned to claim the top spot.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri had an impressive run. The McLaren driver clocked the second-fastest time, showcasing his potential. This performance places him as a strong contender for the upcoming races.
The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz followed closely behind. Leclerc managed to edge out Sainz, taking third place by a margin of 0.073 seconds. This encouraging performance by Ferrari hints at a competitive weekend ahead.
Lewis Hamilton secured fifth position, adding to Mercedes’ optimistic outlook. His consistent performance underscores Mercedes’ recent improvements.
Esteban Ocon continued Alpine’s resurgence by grabbing sixth place. Ocon’s performance indicates Alpine’s upward trajectory this season. Lance Stroll, George Russell, and Yuki Tsunoda also put up solid performances, finishing seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively.
Fernando Alonso rounded up the top ten for Aston Martin, finishing just 0.918 seconds behind Verstappen. In contrast, Lando Norris had a challenging session, finishing 13th after veering into the gravel at Turn 4 during his final lap. Norris ended up just behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who couldn’t manage better than 12th.
With the sprint weekend format in play, teams have limited time to fine-tune their setups before heading into sprint qualifying. The 24-lap sprint race will occur on Saturday morning, followed by the main race qualifying later in the day.
The first practice session in Austria set the stage for an exciting and unpredictable race weekend.
Source: Planetf1
