JUST IN :Verstappen makes error as rivals gain major Austrian

Verstappen makes error as rivals gain major Austrian Grand Prix advantage

McLaren showcased exceptional form ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri delivering strong performances throughout the weekend’s practice sessions. The team appears to be regaining the dominance they once displayed, particularly evident as both drivers posted the fastest times during the final practice (FP3) on Saturday morning. This follows an already impressive display in Friday’s second practice session (FP2), where the McLaren duo also led the timing charts.

In contrast, reigning world champion Max Verstappen and the Ferrari drivers struggled to match McLaren’s pace, falling behind in both FP2 and FP3. This performance drop raises questions about Red Bull’s grip on the competition heading into qualifying, which takes place later on Saturday.

Saturday’s final practice session itself was relatively uneventful in terms of drama or significant developments. Most teams seemed focused on preserving tyre life, opting for medium- to long-distance runs at moderate pace. This cautious approach meant long stretches of inactivity in the pits as teams avoided unnecessary wear on valuable tyre sets ahead of the Sprint and the main Grand Prix.

One of the few notable moments during the session came from Isack Hadjar, who lost control of his car in the final corner by dipping a wheel into the gravel. This led to a graceful but dramatic 360-degree spin. Fortunately, Hadjar managed to recover without sustaining damage to his car, though he did ruin a set of tyres in the process.

Interestingly, Max Verstappen made a nearly identical mistake later in the session. His error mirrored Hadjar’s — a misstep at the same final corner, resulting in a spin that disrupted his rhythm. While Verstappen also avoided any damage, the rare error added to concerns over Red Bull’s relative lack of dominance on the Austrian circuit this weekend.

McLaren’s back-to-back sessions at the top of the timing sheets hint at a potential shake-up in the usual order, with Norris and Piastri looking confident and comfortable in their cars. Their consistent speed over both short and long runs could position them well not just for qualifying, but also for the sprint race and Sunday’s main event.

As teams prepare for the rest of the weekend, McLaren will undoubtedly take encouragement from their drivers’ pace and consistency. Meanwhile, Red Bull and Ferrari will be working to close the gap and find answers to their performance issues. With qualifying and race strategy set to play a crucial role, fans could be in for a thrilling showdown at the Red Bull Ring.