(Spielberg bei Knittelfeld) Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the best time in the only free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix, 11th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, Friday at the Red Bull Ring (4,318 km) to Spielberg.
The three-time reigning world champion, who caused a red flag in the middle of the session after a small breakdown on the pit straight, was able to leave without any problem after restarting the electronic system of his car to achieve the best time in medium tires.
Verstappen beat the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren), who snatched second place at the very end of the session with his hard tires, and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who had worn soft tires, by 276 and 370 thousandths respectively. of second.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) finished fourth, ahead of seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), in the lead for almost the entire session, and Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine).
The top 10 is completed by Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Briton George Russell (Mercedes), Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) and Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin).
The second Alpine single-seater driven by Frenchman Pierre Gasly took 11th place, confirming the revival of the French team seen in recent weeks, while the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and the Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) disappointed with 12th and 13th times.
Teams now have a few hours to fine-tune their car settings before sprint qualifying scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.