First Free Practice Results 2024 Austrian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Austrian F1 GP
Track: Red Bull Ring

Weather: dry 34.4°C
Tarmac: dry  39.8°C
Humidity: 59%
Wind: 10.5 km/h South

Verstappen Leads Eventful First Practice at Austrian GP

As the 2024 Formula 1 season reaches its 11th round, the picturesque Red Bull Ring in Austria sets the stage for an exhilarating weekend. Fresh off his victory in Spain, Max Verstappen showcased his dominance by topping the timesheets in the first practice session despite a mid-session scare.

Session Overview

Max Verstappen's session wasn't without drama. Halfway through FP1, the Dutchman was forced to stop on track due to an apparent engine issue, which led to a red flag. However, the problem was swiftly diagnosed as a sensor issue, allowing Verstappen to return to the track and post the fastest time of 1m 5.685s. The Red Bull driver’s resilience underscores his determination to excel at his team's home circuit.

Oscar Piastri impressed with a strong performance, securing the second-fastest time, just 0.276s behind Verstappen. This result hints at McLaren's potential to challenge Red Bull this weekend. Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five, indicating a competitive field.

Key Incidents

The session was marked by several noteworthy events. Lando Norris showed promising pace early on, but his attempt to challenge Verstappen was thwarted by a lock-up and off-track excursion at Turn 4, leaving him in 13th place. Lance Stroll managed to sandwich himself between the Mercedes drivers momentarily before the final flurry of fast laps on soft tires shuffled the order.

Yuki Tsunoda and Alexander Albon had a close call on track, narrowly avoiding a collision. Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg and Charles Leclerc found themselves in a traffic incident, with Hulkenberg expressing his frustration over the radio.

Team Dynamics and Upgrades

Red Bull enters their home race with no new upgrades, relying on their established performance. In contrast, McLaren has brought significant updates, including a new front wing and reprofiled front suspension, potentially giving them an edge. The Austrian GP marks a crucial test for these upgrades, especially in the Sprint format, which compresses the weekend's schedule and places added importance on FP1.

Sprint Qualifying Ahead

With the first practice session concluded, all eyes now turn to Sprint Qualifying later this afternoon. The session will determine the starting grid for the Sprint race, adding another layer of excitement to the weekend. The battle between Red Bull and McLaren, along with the potential resurgence of Mercedes and Ferrari, sets the stage for a thrilling contest.

Halfway Top 10 Order

The top 10 order halfway the session was:

1. Hamilton, Mercedes - 1:06.254 min (H)
2. Russell, Mercedes +0.132 sec (H)
3. Verstappen, Red Bull +0.391 sec (M)
4. Pérez, Red Bull +0.529 sec (M)
5. Norris, McLaren +0.626 sec (H)
6. Leclerc, Ferrari +0.647 sec. (H)
7. Sainz, Ferrari +0.733 sec (H)
8. Magnussen, Haas +0.925 sec (M)
9. PIastri, McLaren +1.087 sec (H)
10. Ocon, Alpine +1.087 sec (H)

The quickest sector times driven during this FP1 were:

1. 16.515 sec. by Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38.
2. 29.273 sec. by Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38.
3. 19.744 sec. by Max Verstappen, Red Bull RB20

Last year the quickest lap time in FP1 was a 1:05.742 min set by Verstappen with the RB19.

FP1 Times Table 2024 Austrian GP

✅ Check out our 2024 Austrian F1 GP preview.

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