Russell Fastest; Norris, Dunne Shine in Austria

George Russell led the first practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix, continuing his momentum after a recent Canadian Grand Prix victory by narrowly beating Max Verstappen. Oscar Piastri finished third for McLaren, and 19-year-old Alex Dunne made a notable Formula 1 debut for the team, placing fourth and becoming the first Irish driver in an F1 weekend in 22 years. As part of McLaren’s rookie driver program, Lando Norris sat out FP1 but returned in FP2 to set the fastest time, securing a McLaren 1-2 finish with Piastri just behind. Lewis Hamilton experienced gearbox issues and was off pace in both sessions, while Ferrari and Red Bull debuted new upgrades at the Red Bull Ring. FP1 also saw rookie appearances from Dino Beganovic and Gabriel Bortoleto, with Bortoleto finishing sixth. The weekend highlights McLaren’s strong performance and a major milestone in Dunne’s young career.