The Austrian Grand Prix weekend is off to a surprising start, with Red Bull failing to dominate the free practice sessions at their home track, the Red Bull Ring, ahead of the race on Sunday, June 29.
The Mercedes ace George Russell topped FP1 with a lap of 1:05.542, edging out Max Verstappen by just 0.065s. Oscar Piastri, the current championship leader, finished third, 0.155s off Russell’s time. And, a point to be noted, it marked the first time Mercedes have led first free practice session this season.
In FP2, it was Lando Norris who set the pace after skipping the opening session. He had handed over his car to McLaren junior and current F2 championship leader Alex Dunne during FP1. Norris is currently second in the drivers' standings with 176 points behind Piastri’s 198.
And, for the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, it was yet another nightmare, finishing ninth and tenth in the two sessions respectively--just as he had warned, "don't expect changes" despite Ferrari’s new upgrades. The team introduced a revised floor on the SF-25 in Austria, aiming for better grip and gains in performance.
F1 Austrian Grand Prix 2025 Race Timings:
27 June – Friday
• Practice 1: 17:00 - 18:00
• Practice 2: 20:30 - 21:30
28 June – Saturday
• Practice 3: 16:00 - 17:00
• Qualifying: 19:30 - 20:30
29 June – Sunday
• Race: 18:30
Austrian Grand Prix 2025 Weather Report:
On Friday, a brief evening shower is possible in Spielberg. However, Saturday and Sunday are expected to be mostly sunny and hot. There's only a 5% chance of rain during qualifying, with temperatures ranging between 29°C and 30°C.
Race day on Sunday will be even warmer, with the temperature expected to hit 31°C. The forecast shows just a 1% chance of rain, so fans can expect a dry weekend at the Red Bull Ring.
F1 2025 Season Recap:
McLaren are the favourites of the 2025 Formula 1 season, with Oscar Piastri leading the Drivers’ Championship and Lando Norris not far behind in second. In the Constructors’ standings, the papaya team holds a commanding lead with 374 points -- 175 points ahead of second-placed Mercedes.
Piastri has has won five races and secured eight podium finishes. Norris, while consistent, has managed two race wins and eight podiums of his own.
However, McLaren’s momentum took a hit last weekend, at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Mercedes’ George Russell took victory, followed by Max Verstappen in second and rookie Kimi Antonelli finishing third. Piastri came home fourth, while Norris endured a weekend to forget. The Brit crashed into the back of teammate that compromised both drivers’ races, admitting, “I made a fool of myself.”
Austrian Grand Prix 2025 Live Streaming:
The Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix 2025 race will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India.
