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Austrian GP: Verstappen fastest in FP1 from Ferrari pair

  • Darshan Chokhani
    • Max Verstappen, F1, Austrian GP

    SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JUNE 30: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 30, 2023 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202306300442 // Usage for editorial use only //

    Max Verstappen ended up on top in F1 Austrian GP FP1 – the lone practice session – ahead of the Ferrari pair but on different tyres.

    It was a somber FP1 session in F1 Austrian GP sprint weekend where Red Bull’s Verstappen set the pace after the Dutchman posted a 1m05.742s lap on the final lap on the medium tyres. He led the two Ferrari drivers who did so on the soft compound.

    It was Carlos Sainz ahead of Charles Leclerc, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in fourth from Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. The Mexican ran the medium tyres as well as he returned to the Austrian GP paddock after getting ill and missing Thursday.

    Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was sixth from Haas’ Kevin Magnussen with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in eighth where the Spaniard set the pace on the medium tyres. Mercedes’ George Russell didn’t look as good in ninth.

    Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu rounded out the Top 10, with Williams’ Alexander Albon in 11th in a different run plan along with teammate Logan Sargeant. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was 12th without the updates on his car, as Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg ended up 13th.

    The other Alfa Romeo of Valtteri Bottas led the lead AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda, where teammate Nyck de Vries was close behind in 16th. Williams’ Sargeant was 17th after getting the updates on his car, with the Alpine pair behind him.

    It was Esteban Ocon in 18th from Pierre Gasly where the former set his pace on the medium tyre, like McLaren’s Lando Norris in 20th. The Brit had big updates but took a cautious approach in setting a lap time or going aggressive.

    It was a clean Austrian GP FP1 but there were some run-off moments at different corners involving Ocon, Leclerc, Alonso, Tsunoda and Bottas. Elsewhere, the FIA released detailed on the PU elements with Bottas, Guanyu, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Leclerc, Sainz, Verstappen, de Vries and Tsunoda taking new parts.

    Here’s the list: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2023%20Austrian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20New%20PU%20elements%20for%20this%20Competition.pdf