The Italian sets the best time with Mercedes, then Piastri and Norris. Fifth time for Hamilton but the Reds may have chosen not to reveal all their cards
Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes they return as protagonists in the first day of free practice on the Spielberg circuit, the Red Bull Ring. The Italian driver got it the best time ahead of the two Mc Larens of Piastri and Norris. Fourth time for Red Bull Max Verstappen And fifth for Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari. The Englishman did better than his teammate Charles Leclerc but in Maranello they can’t be happy with the first day on the Austrian circuit because the gap between Hamilton and Antonelli is almost six tenths. The Ferrari seemed balanced from an aerodynamic point of view but once again too slow compared to Antonelli’s Mercedes.
Has Ferrari gone into hiding?
The impression is that Ferrari did not want to reveal all its potential by leaving it for tomorrow’s official tests. No comment from the drivers on any difficulties encountered by the Maranello cars but the changes announced on the engine have not yet been seen and the Ferraris are still too slow compared to the silver arrows. Tomorrow we will find out if Maranello has done pre-tactics: in the morning (at 12.30) the last free practice session and then in the afternoon the hour of official testing which will determine the starting grid for the grand prix. The great heat expected especially on race day it could be a variable for tire grip, as well as brake wear. There were many complaints about the brakes from the drivers over the radio during the session, demonstrating a track whose layout demands a lot from the cars, under stress not only with regards to the engine.
