Lando Norris topped team-mate Oscar Piastri as McLaren sealed a dominant one-two in second practice at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Despite having sat out the opening session earlier on Friday as McLaren fulfilled one of their obligated rookie sessions by running Irish teenager Alex Dunne, Norris was swiftly onto the pace at the Red Bull Ring, setting a time of 1:04.580 to better Piastri by 0.157s.
The display represented an impressive return to action for Norris after he caused a collision with world championship leader Piastri last time out in Canada that caused him to retire from the race, and saw his deficit to his team-mate grow to 22 points.
McLaren, who brought an upgraded front suspension to Spielberg, appear to have an advantage over the rest of the field, with Max Verstappen three tenths back in third despite Red Bull having brought a revised floor edge to their home event.
George Russell, fresh off his first victory of the season in Canada, looked to be McLaren’s most likely challenger after topping first practice for Mercedes, but had to settle for sixth in the second session.
Russell did his soft-tyre qualifying simulations earlier than the McLarens on the quickly improving surface, which could explain some of the six-tenth gap between him and Norris.
Lance Stroll took a surprise fourth for Aston Martin ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with the Italian team’s new floor appearing to have brought little improvement.
Watch as Ferrari suffers a challenging Friday practice in Austria, which saw Lewis Hamilton complain of pace and nearly collide with Kimi Antonelli while Charles Leclerc found the gravel.
Lewis Hamilton fared even worse as he finished 10th while complaining of a lack of pace in his Ferrari. The seven-time world champion also faces a post-session investigation for impeding Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
There was some encouragement for reigning world champion Verstappen, who is 43 points back from Piastri in third in the drivers’ standings, as he at least appeared capable of matching McLaren’s long-run pace.
Irish rookie Alex Dunne impressed on his debut with McLaren by landing a fourth-place finish at the end of P1 in Austria.
In Practice One, 19-year-old Irish driver Dunne announced himself to the paddock by going fourth fastest, finishing within a tenth of team-mate for the session Piastri.
The F2 championship leader has little prospect of progressing to a seat with McLaren any time soon, but delivered a showing that will catapult his name into any possible openings elsewhere for the 2026 season.
Sky Sports F1’s Austrian GP schedule
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Austrian Grand Prix
Saturday June 28
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15pm: Austrian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: AUSTRIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 29
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up*
2pm: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP reaction*
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Next up for the 2025 Formula 1 season is a return to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix, which is live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.
