The highly anticipated 2021 Austrian Grand Prix roared to life at the iconic Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, with Max Verstappen, the local hero for Red Bull, setting the fastest time in the opening practice session. This crucial Friday morning run wasn’t just about raw pace; teams were also busy evaluating Pirelli’s latest rear tyre construction for the C4 compound, a critical development for upcoming races. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as Formula 1 returned to Austria for what promised to be a thrilling weekend of high-speed action and strategic battles.
From the moment the lights turned green, the Red Bull-branded teams demonstrated formidable pace. Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, immediately stamped his authority on the session, opting for soft tyres right from the start of the 60-minute session. His teammate, Sergio Perez, mirrored this aggressive approach, quickly slotting into second place, securing an early one-two for the Milton Keynes squad. Their sister team, AlphaTauri, initially split their tyre strategies, with both drivers starting on medium compounds for their second runs before transitioning to the prototype C4 tyres for evaluation. This initial show of force from Red Bull underscored their strong form at their home circuit, a trend that had been building throughout the season.
Despite Red Bull’s early dominance, the session wasn’t without its challenges and brief shifts at the top. Pierre Gasly, showing impressive pace for AlphaTauri, momentarily dislodged Verstappen from the top spot. However, the Frenchman’s fastest lap was unfortunately chalked off due to a track limits infringement, a common theme at the Red Bull Ring. Following this, Verstappen reclaimed his position and maintained a relentless pace, remaining at the summit of the timesheets until the chequered flag brought the session to a close. His consistency and ability to extract maximum performance from the car highlighted why he was considered a strong contender for the weekend.
The Scuderia Ferrari pairing emerged as the closest challengers to Verstappen’s blistering pace, particularly once they switched to the softer tyre compounds. Charles Leclerc, showcasing Ferrari’s improving form, recorded a lap time just 0.266 seconds slower than Verstappen. His teammate, Carlos Sainz Jnr, was hot on his heels, trailing Leclerc by a mere 0.022 seconds, securing third place. Ferrari’s strong showing in FP1 suggested they could be genuine contenders for a podium finish, having made significant strides in car development and understanding their tyre performance.
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Mercedes, meanwhile, took a more measured approach to the session, focusing heavily on aero testing rather than outright performance runs. Valtteri Bottas placed his Mercedes in fourth, a respectable position given the team’s testing agenda. However, the German outfit never truly looked poised to challenge for the top spots. Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton also encountered difficulties, with several of his early laps deleted for exceeding track limits. As the session progressed and the track became busier, finding clear air for an uninterrupted flying lap became increasingly challenging for all drivers, making significant improvements in lap times difficult to achieve.
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda had a standout performance, securing an impressive fifth place, outpacing his teammate Gasly by a quarter of a second. Tsunoda’s spirited drive put him ahead of a strong midfield contingent, which included Alfa Romeo’s experienced driver Kimi Raikkonen, who dedicated most of his session to performance runs, as well as Hamilton and Perez. Raikkonen’s consistent presence in the top ten highlighted Alfa Romeo’s potential, particularly on circuits that suit their car’s characteristics.
The top ten was rounded out by Lando Norris in his McLaren, who continued to show strong form for the British team. His teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, along with the two Ferrari drivers, were the only participants to run on the hardest tyre compounds during some part of their session. Ricciardo, notably, did not test the prototype C4 tyres and finished 12th, indicating a potentially different tyre strategy for the Australian driver compared to others, or simply a focus on other setup parameters.
Further down the field, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon secured 11th place, making him the last driver within a second of Verstappen’s leading pace, a testament to the highly competitive nature of Formula 1. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll found himself in 13th, despite experiencing two spins, including a high-speed excursion into the recently laid gravel trap at turn six. His minor incidents underscored the fine margins and demanding nature of the Red Bull Ring circuit, which punishes even slight errors.
Stroll wasn’t the only driver to face difficulties. Ferrari and Mercedes cars exhibited noticeable front tyre locking into turn one, a challenge that required careful management from their drivers. Adding to the drama, Haas’s Nikita Mazepin proved to be a source of frustration for several rivals, impeding their flying laps and leading to some close calls on track. These incidents contributed to the lively radio communications from drivers, with Tsunoda notably delivering his characteristically animated messages after his lap was compromised by traffic. Such moments highlighted the intensity of practice sessions, where every thousandth of a second counts.
The opening session also saw three teams field different drivers, providing an opportunity for young talent to gain valuable F1 experience. Alpine’s debutant, Guanyu Zhou, who was leading the Formula 2 standings at the time, made a strong impression, finishing 14th. He was ahead of Alfa Romeo’s Callum Ilott in 15th and Williams’ Roy Nissany in 18th. All three young drivers enjoyed trouble-free runs, collecting valuable data and showcasing their potential on the biggest stage. Their participation added an extra layer of intrigue, as teams looked to the future of the sport while focusing on the immediate challenges of the Grand Prix weekend.
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Overall, Max Verstappen’s dominant performance in FP1, combined with the comprehensive tyre testing by Pirelli and the varied strategies employed by teams, sets the stage for a compelling Austrian Grand Prix weekend. While Red Bull looks strong at their home circuit, Ferrari’s improved pace and Mercedes’ hidden potential cannot be underestimated. The midfield battle is as tight as ever, promising fierce competition throughout qualifying and the race. The data gathered from this session, particularly concerning the new C4 tyre construction, will be crucial for engineers and strategists as they fine-tune their setups for the challenges ahead, aiming for optimal performance on Saturday and Sunday.
2021 Austrian Grand Prix First Practice Result
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Best lap | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda | 1’05.143 | 35 | |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’05.409 | 0.266 | 32 |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’05.431 | 0.288 | 32 |
| 4 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 1’05.445 | 0.302 | 29 |
| 5 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Honda | 1’05.474 | 0.331 | 34 |
| 6 | 7 | Kimi Raikkonen | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’05.586 | 0.443 | 27 |
| 7 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’05.709 | 0.566 | 30 |
| 8 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda | 1’05.726 | 0.583 | 29 |
| 9 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Honda | 1’05.726 | 0.583 | 35 |
| 10 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’05.880 | 0.737 | 26 |
| 11 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’05.980 | 0.837 | 29 |
| 12 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’06.181 | 1.038 | 29 |
| 13 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’06.203 | 1.060 | 28 |
| 14 | 37 | Guanyu Zhou | Alpine-Renault | 1’06.414 | 1.271 | 28 |
| 15 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’06.444 | 1.301 | 27 |
| 16 | 98 | Callum Ilott | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’06.564 | 1.421 | 23 |
| 17 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari | 1’06.583 | 1.440 | 28 |
| 18 | 45 | Roy Nissany | Williams-Mercedes | 1’06.683 | 1.540 | 33 |
| 19 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams-Mercedes | 1’06.978 | 1.835 | 34 |
| 20 | 9 | Nikita Mazepin | Haas-Ferrari | 1’07.316 | 2.173 | 29 |
First Practice Gaps to Leader
Max Verstappen – 1’05.143
+0.266 Charles Leclerc – 1’05.409
+0.288 Carlos Sainz Jnr – 1’05.431
+0.302 Valtteri Bottas – 1’05.445
+0.331 Yuki Tsunoda – 1’05.474
+0.443 Kimi Raikkonen – 1’05.586
+0.566 Lewis Hamilton – 1’05.709
+0.583 Sergio Perez – 1’05.726
+0.583 Pierre Gasly – 1’05.726
+0.737 Lando Norris – 1’05.880
+0.837 Esteban Ocon – 1’05.980
+1.038 Daniel Ricciardo – 1’06.181
+1.060 Lance Stroll – 1’06.203
+1.271 Guanyu Zhou – 1’06.414
+1.301 Sebastian Vettel – 1’06.444
+1.421 Callum Ilott – 1’06.564
+1.440 Mick Schumacher – 1’06.583
+1.540 Roy Nissany – 1’06.683
+1.835 Nicholas Latifi – 1’06.978
+2.173 Nikita Mazepin – 1’07.316
Drivers more than ten seconds off the pace omitted from this list.
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