The first practice session for the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen continuing his dominant form, setting the fastest time with a lap of 1:05.685 at the Red Bull Ring. The Dutch driver outpaced McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 0.276 seconds and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.370 seconds, establishing a strong start for the weekend.
Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five, with both drivers showing competitive pace. Esteban Ocon in the Alpine and Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin also put in notable performances, finishing sixth and seventh respectively. The session was crucial as it provided the only hour of practice before the Sprint Shootout and qualifying sessions later in the weekend.
The adjustments to the Red Bull Ring’s track limits and the new gravel strips at Turns 9 and 10 seem to have had an impact, helping to keep drivers within the designated boundaries and reducing violations compared to previous years.
With these results, teams and drivers have gathered valuable data to fine-tune their strategies for the upcoming sessions, making for an exciting weekend ahead in Spielberg.
