Austrian GP Friday FP1 and FP2 results - Can McLaren be beat?

The 2025 Austrian Grand Prix kicked off at the Red Bull Ring with Friday’s Free Practice sessions, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive weekend. In FP1, Mercedes’ George Russell set the pace with a 1:05.542, closely followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (+0.065s) and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (+0.155s). McLaren’s rookie Alex Dunne, subbing for Lando Norris, stole the show with an impressive fourth place (+0.224s), showcasing the team’s strength even with a stand-in driver. Ferrari struggled, with Lewis Hamilton in ninth (+0.557s) hampered by gearbox issues and rookie Dino Beganovic in 18th due to floor problems. FP2 saw McLaren assert dominance, with Norris returning to top the timesheets at 1:04.580, leading teammate Piastri by 0.157s for a McLaren 1-2. Verstappen trailed in third (+0.318s), followed by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (+0.610s), while Hamilton languished in 10th (+0.931s). McLaren’s performance, bolstered by new front suspension and rear geometry upgrades, suggests they’re the team to beat, but the tight margins and upgrades from rivals keep the door open for surprises. For Lando Norris, the Austrian Grand Prix is a critical juncture in his 2025 championship campaign. Trailing teammate Oscar Piastri by 22 points after a costly collision in Canada, Norris needs a strong, error-free weekend to close the gap. His FP2 performance, topping the times despite missing FP1, signals McLaren’s upgrades are working, particularly the new front suspension aimed at improving his feel for the car. Austria has been a turning point for Norris before—his 2020 podium and 2023’s upgrade-driven surge highlight the track’s significance. However, with Verstappen, a five-time winner here, lurking just 21 points behind, and Piastri showing consistent pace, Norris must capitalize on McLaren’s apparent edge. The team’s 175-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship underscores their dominance, but Norris’s recent mistakes in Japan, Miami, and Canada put pressure on him to deliver. Can McLaren be beaten? Their FP1 and FP2 results suggest not easily, but Verstappen’s home-track prowess and Mercedes’ recent form, led by Russell’s Canada win, keep the fight alive.

Ferrari, meanwhile, arrived in Spielberg with high hopes pinned on a redesigned floor, their first major upgrade since Bahrain. However, their Friday performance was underwhelming. Leclerc’s fifth place in FP2 was respectable, but Hamilton’s 10th, coupled with early gearbox woes and Beganovic’s floor issues in FP1, raises doubts about the upgrades’ immediate impact. Hamilton has cautioned that the new floor may not deliver instant results, and with Ferrari yet to secure a podium for him in 2025, the pressure is mounting. Posts on X suggest Ferrari showed promise in earlier races like Spain, where Leclerc’s race pace was competitive despite McLaren’s qualifying edge, but their Austria struggles indicate they’re playing catch-up. McLaren’s consistent pace across both sessions, even with Dunne’s standout FP1, suggests Ferrari’s upgrades need fine-tuning to challenge the papaya squad. Red Bull’s new floor edge and Mercedes’ cooling tweaks further complicate Ferrari’s bid to close the gap. Can McLaren be beaten this weekend? Their 1-2 in FP2, combined with the data gathered from Dunne’s FP1 run, positions them as the frontrunners. The Red Bull Ring’s short lap and overtaking opportunities amplify the importance of qualifying pace, where McLaren’s upgrades give them an edge. However, Verstappen’s track record here—four wins and a 2023 pole—makes him a formidable threat, especially if Red Bull’s soft-tyre pace, hinted at by Yuki Tsunoda’s FP2 time, translates to qualifying. Mercedes, with Russell’s FP1 pace and recent Canada success, could also disrupt McLaren’s rhythm, particularly if their cooling tweaks suit the warm 27-28°C conditions. Ferrari’s upgrades, while promising, seem unlikely to yield a winning package yet, leaving them battling for podium scraps. McLaren’s consistency and upgrades make them the team to beat, but the tight field—evident in FP1’s top four within 0.224s—means a perfect lap and strategy will be crucial. Qualifying and FP3 will reveal more, but McLaren’s Friday form sets a high bar.