Antonelli stays ahead, McLaren surges to second and third in Austrian GP practice 2

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli completed a Friday practice sweep after beating Oscar Piastri to the fastest time of FP2 at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Antonelli built into the session gently but gradually moved himself into top spot by the time he shed his opening set of medium-compound tires for a fresh set of softs. His first qualifying simulation lap consolidated his position as the fastest driver with a 0.042s advantage over Piastri, but a second lap on the same rubber catapulted him to a handy 0.237s advantage.

The Italian's quickest time, a 1m07.014s, was set with only one purple sector, in the first split. His second sector was a personal best, but he left time on the table in the final sector, suggesting more could have been on offer for the Mercedes driver.

Piastri was left to hold second place, the Australian leading McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 0.088s. There appeared to be no sign of the technical issues that troubled either driver in FP1, though Norris’s engineer noted at the end of the session that his brakes were running very hot.

Max Verstappen was fourth and 0.55s off the pace, but the Dutchman was extremely unhappy with his car. At first the five-time Spielberg winner complained that his seating position was too reclined, while later in the session he told his team his engine was bogging down, particularly at Turn 3, where both he and teammate Isack Hadjar were struggling.

Lewis Hamilton slotted into fifth, his Ferrari 0.597s off the pace. The Briton attempted a second push lap on his soft tires but locked up at Turn 3 and ran off the road, ending the effort and his attempt to improve his time.

George Russell followed 0.623s off the pace set by his session-topping teammate after being briefly delayed leaving his garage with a technical problem.

Hadjar was a vociferously unhappy seventh after a clumsy but apparently engine-prompted spin at Turn 3.

Charles Leclerc toiled to eighth and 0.841s off the pace, with Liam Lawson following for Racing Bulls ahead of Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who completed the top 10.

Pierre Gasly was 11th for Alpine ahead of Avid Lindblad, Oliver Bearman, Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon.

Franco Colapinto survived a big slide through Turn 6 early on his way to 16th ahead of Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, the former briefly returning to pit lane with a loss of power before completing the session apparently untroubled.

Fernando Alonso was 19th for Aston Martin ahead of teammate Lance Stroll.

Cadillac suffered a torrid session following a difficult FP1 in its heavily upgraded car. Valtteri Bottas completed only six laps before retiring with smoke puffing from his floor, which was scraping along the ground owing to an apparent front suspension issue. He was unable to rejoin the session.

The Finn still completed more laps than Sergio Perez, who completed only two tours before reporting the same problem that had him stop on track in the opening session of the day, and the Mexican’s car duly shut down at Turn 6, triggering a virtual safety car.

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