Updated
Updated · Formula 1 · Jun 27
George Russell Tops Austrian GP Final Practice by 0.038s Over Kimi Antonelli
Updated
Updated · Formula 1 · Jun 27

George Russell Tops Austrian GP Final Practice by 0.038s Over Kimi Antonelli

3 articles · Updated · Formula 1 · Jun 27

Summary

  • 1:07.096 put George Russell fastest in final Austrian Grand Prix practice, edging Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.038s before qualifying later Saturday.
  • Antonelli had led much of the session with a 1:07.134, but Russell found more on the final soft-tyre runs as Mercedes locked out the top two in 31C air temperatures.
  • Lewis Hamilton finished third, 0.115s off Russell, with McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris fourth and fifth; Max Verstappen was sixth after reporting radio interference.
  • Carlos Sainz endured a rough hour for Williams, receiving a black-and-white flag for driving unnecessarily slowly and later sliding off at the final corner.
  • The result gives Mercedes the clearest one-lap statement of the weekend heading into 1600 local qualifying at the Red Bull Ring.

Insights

After his Barcelona DNF, can Kimi Antonelli fend off his teammate and a resurgent Lewis Hamilton in Austria?
Have the 2026 F1 regulations truly leveled the playing field, or just shifted the advantage between top teams?