What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Austrian GP

Key Points:

• The intense June heatwave in Europe impacted the Austrian Grand Prix practice sessions, causing discomfort for drivers and technical issues for cars, including overheating brakes and tyre degradation challenges.
• Kimi Antonelli dominated both Friday practice sessions at the Red Bull Ring, setting the fastest times and appearing unfazed by the heat, while teammate George Russell struggled to keep pace, finishing sixth in FP2.
• McLaren showed strong race pace, with Lando Norris close to Antonelli's times, raising concerns for Mercedes; meanwhile, Ferrari and Red Bull were closely matched but faced traction and balance difficulties, particularly at Turn 3.
• Red Bull introduced significant upgrades to the RB22, improving performance despite ongoing issues with powertrain mapping and tyre grip, while Audi's rear-end updates also enhanced driveability in the midfield battle.
• Cadillac experienced reliability problems, including electrical issues and a fire caused by floor scraping, hindering their performance despite updates aimed at reducing tyre degradation; Aston Martin remained mid-pack amid these challenges.