Austrian GP FP2: Norris Tops Practice Amid Stumbles from Rivals
Lando Norris emerged as the frontrunner in the second practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix, clocking a lap time of 1:04.580. This marked his return to form following a crash with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri during the Canadian GP. After sitting out FP1, Norris demonstrated his speed, finishing 0.157 seconds ahead of championship leader Piastri. Max Verstappen secured third position for Red Bull, further solidifying his competitive edge.
Lance Stroll was the only other driver to break within half a second of the McLaren duo, finishing fourth, while Charles Leclerc rounded out the top five for Ferrari after experiencing some difficulties, including going off track at Turn 6.
George Russell, who clinched a win in Canada, led the morning session but could only manage sixth in FP2. Yuki Tsunoda placed seventh, followed by Gabriel Bortoleto in eighth. Fernando Alonso and a notably struggling Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top ten. Hamilton lagged nearly a second behind Norris’s best time and encountered gearbox issues in FP1. His day worsened when he was summoned to the stewards for obstructing Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the session.
Concerns arose early in the session regarding Liam Lawson’s car, which reported steering issues, complicating his performance for the Racing Bulls. The latter part of the session focused on long runs, with Verstappen and Piastri conducting stints on the soft C5 tire compound.
FP2 Results Summary:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) — 1:04.580
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — +0.157s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) — +0.250s
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) — +0.497s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) — +0.634s
- George Russell (Mercedes) — +0.840s
- Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) — +0.865s
- Gabriel Bortoleto (AlphaTauri) — +0.897s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) — +1.012s
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) — +1.049s
As teams prepare for qualifying, the dynamics between the McLaren drivers and key contenders will be crucial in shaping the race weekend.
