Lando Leads and Dunne Dazzles in Action-Packed Austrian GP Friday
What a day it’s been at the Red Bull Ring for the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix. If you missed the Friday action, let me catch you up because it was packed with drama, excitement, and a few surprises that could set the tone for a thrilling race weekend.
Formula One returned to Europe, and straight away, it felt like McLaren had a point to prove. After their unfortunate internal clash back in Canada, many wondered how the team dynamics would hold up here in Austria. But Lando Norris made a statement—fastest in Free Practice 2 with a blistering 1:04.580. He looked sharp, confident, and in control. Just behind him was teammate Oscar Piastri, only 0.157 seconds off. That gap might sound tiny, but on a track as short and demanding as the Red Bull Ring, it’s a big margin.
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But Norris wasn’t the only McLaren-related story of the day. All eyes were on 19-year-old Alex Dunne, who got his first taste of F1 machinery in FP1, taking Norris’ seat for the session. Driving cleanly, confidently, and without incident, Dunne impressed not just the team but the entire paddock. His seamless transition from F2 to F1 machinery, even if just for a session, had fans buzzing. It wasn’t just about raw pace—it was about poise, maturity, and maximizing the opportunity. He followed that up by qualifying P7 in F2 later in the day. Quite the debut.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen had a slightly unusual Friday. Without his regular race engineer GianPiero Lambiase, who’s away for personal reasons, Verstappen worked with Simon Rennie, Red Bull’s simulator chief and former engineer to Daniel Ricciardo. Despite the shakeup, Verstappen looked composed, though he reported some handling issues—particularly understeer—and finished third in FP2, three-tenths off Norris’ time.
Behind them, there was a surprise showing from Lance Stroll, who slotted into fourth with a strong lap in his Aston Martin, while Ferrari continued to struggle. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both seemed uncomfortable, with Leclerc even running off into the gravel early in his stint. The Ferrari package isn’t looking competitive so far, which could spell trouble for their weekend hopes.
There’s also an undercurrent of drama off the track—George Russell, fresh off his win in Canada, still doesn’t have a contract extension at Mercedes. The rumor mill is spinning, especially with Toto Wolff admitting they’ve had talks with Verstappen’s camp. If anything’s brewing for 2026, it adds an intriguing subplot to the ongoing season.
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