Austrian GP: Russell Fastest in First Practice as Dunne Impresses

In the first practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix, George Russell set the quickest lap time, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen. Adding to the session`s highlights was Irish teenager Alex Dunne, who made a notable impression on his debut for McLaren.

Russell, the recent winner of the Canadian Grand Prix, is reported to be in discussions with Mercedes regarding Max Verstappen`s future. He narrowly edged out his rival by a mere 0.065 seconds at Red Bull`s home circuit.

Championship leader Oscar Piastri finished the session in third place. Alex Dunne, who stepped in for Lando Norris for this initial practice, performed impressively to secure fourth position, finishing just a quarter of a second shy of Russell`s leading time.

Formula 1 regulations require teams to run a rookie driver in at least four practice sessions during the season. McLaren utilized this opportunity to give Dunne a chance to shine, and his performance certainly captured the attention of the paddock.

Dunne, aged 19, currently leads the Formula 2 championship. His appearance marked the first time an Irish driver has competed in an F1 race weekend since Ralph Firman in 2003.

Speaking over the radio after the session, Dunne expressed his delight: “I want to say a massive thank you. A little boy`s dream came true, and this is definitely the best day of my life.”

He added, “Thank you everyone for letting me do this, and thanks to Lando as well for trusting me with his car.”

Born in Offaly on November 11, 2005, Dunne has progressed through the karting and single-seater categories with several strong performances, including finishing as runner-up to Kimi Antonelli in Italian F4.

His impressive practice debut, as noted by McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, further highlights his quality as the current F2 championship leader.

Stella commented on Dunne`s performance: “`Alex has been quite diligent and impressive. And then he also had the chance to show some speed and, no surprise, he is a fast driver.”

However, Stella also offered a note of caution regarding the raw lap times: “I think we need to be a bit careful looking at the lap times, because his came later on in the stint when the fuel was down.”

He concluded, “`But I think it was encouraging and impressive in terms of Alex himself, and also I think a good session for McLaren.`”

Elsewhere in the session, Lewis Hamilton encountered a gearbox issue midway through, resulting in a ninth-place finish. Ferrari introduced a new floor for the Austrian weekend, aiming to close the performance gap to the front-running teams.

Ferrari also fielded a rookie, with Dino Beganovic driving in place of Charles Leclerc. Leclerc will return alongside Norris for the second practice session later on Friday.

Pierre Gasly of Alpine secured fifth position, followed by Gabriel Bortoleto from Sauber in sixth. The tight lap times on Austria`s short circuit suggest that midfield teams could have a strong chance to score points.

The Williams drivers, Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, finished seventh and eighth respectively. Lewis Hamilton and Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls rounded out the top 10.

Fernando Alonso had a significant spin at the final corner but successfully avoided contact with the barriers, finishing 14th. The session demonstrated remarkable competitiveness, with the top 19 drivers separated by less than a second.

Austrian GP Practice One Timesheet