The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team has established a commanding presence at the Red Bull Ring, leading all three free practice sessions in the build-up to the Austrian Grand Prix. This strong showing has immediately positioned the Silver Arrows as a team to watch as qualifying looms.
Antonelli Dominates Friday Sessions
Young talent Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, demonstrated exceptional form on Friday, June 26, 2026. The Italian driver topped both Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2. His most impressive lap came in FP2, where he set the fastest time of the day with a 1 minute 7.014 seconds. This consistent speed across both sessions underscored Mercedes' early advantage on the Spielberg circuit.
Russell Continues Momentum in FP3
The momentum carried over into Saturday, June 27, 2026, as Antonelli's teammate George Russell took the reins. Russell delivered a strong performance in Free Practice 3, setting the fastest time in the session. This ensured that a Mercedes driver occupied the top spot in every practice session held so far, signaling a promising weekend for the German outfit.
Qualifying Set for Today
With all three practice sessions concluded, attention now turns to the crucial qualifying session. Drivers will hit the track later today, June 27th, at 16:00 local time, to battle for pole position. Mercedes' consistent performance throughout practice suggests they will be strong contenders to secure a front-row start for Sunday's main event.
