Lando Norris stamped his authority on Free Practice 2 at the Red Bull Ring, setting a blistering 1:04.580, more than a tenth ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri and three tenths clear of Max Verstappen. McLaren’s consistent pace confirms its momentum in recent races as both cars showcased excellent balance and acceleration through the Austrian circuit’s flowing layout.
Mercedes Slips Back Despite Car Reversion
After topping FP1, George Russell could not maintain that momentum. Mercedes reverted to an older spec of the W15 in search of stability, but it did not yield major gains in FP2. Russell placed fifth, nearly six tenths off Norris. On the other side of the garage, rookie Kimi Antonelli showed notable progress. He reduced his deficit to Russell from six tenths in FP1 to just three in the second session, continuing to prove he is rapidly adapting to Formula 1’s intensity. Antonelli did encounter traffic during a push lap, expressing frustration over Lewis Hamilton impeding him though the incident seemed unintentional.
Ferrari Finds Speed, But Loses Stability
Charles Leclerc demonstrated blistering straight-line speed in FP2, suggesting that Ferrari reduced its aerodynamic load for this session. While the SF-24 was fast down the straights, it appeared more nervous through the corners. Leclerc ran wide twice, highlighting the car’s instability under braking and mid-corner. However, with some balance adjustments, Ferrari could be in contention during qualifying.
Racing Bulls Introduce Key Upgrades
Racing Bulls arrived in Austria with aerodynamic updates aimed at improving cornering precision and overall performance. A newly designed front wing was added to help rotation, while the rear wing was tailored to match the demands of the Red Bull Ring. Team Principal Laurent Mekies explained that the team is splitting wind tunnel time between the 2025 and 2026 cars, with an increasing focus on next season. The major shift is expected to come during the summer break, but Mekies insisted they are not giving up on 2025 yet, given how tight the midfield battle remains.
Lawson Battles Handling Issues Early On
Liam Lawson, who took part in the session for Racing Bulls, reported car handling issues just minutes into FP2.
“If I let go of the wheel, the car pulls to the right,”
he said on the radio, indicating a possible setup or suspension irregularity. It marked a difficult start for the New Zealander, who is working to establish himself as a reliable reserve presence.
Frustrations Mount for Alpine and Haas
Pierre Gasly’s session ended in disappointment as he reported something potentially broken on the floor of his Alpine.
“It’s disastrous in Turns 1 and 6. The car is all over the place,”
he radioed. Similarly, Nico Hülkenberg voiced concerns over his VF-24, citing front-end grip problems.
“I’m not feeling the love. A lot of the front is not really gripping in many places,”
he commented. Both teams face a race against time to resolve issues ahead of qualifying.
The Top Five in FP2
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:04.580
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.157
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.318
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.487
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.588
Tension Builds for Saturday
With McLaren leading the charge and Verstappen close behind, qualifying could be a fight down to the hundredths. Ferrari’s aero gamble might pay off if Leclerc finds more control, and Antonelli continues to close the gap to Russell at Mercedes.
FP2 proved how tightly packed the field remains in 2025, and with multiple teams bringing updates, every tenth will matter.
Austria is set to deliver another thriller. The real battle begins tomorrow.