Russell Shines in Austrian GP Free Practice Sessions

George Russell leads the charge in Austrian GP practice, setting the stage for an electrifying race weekend.

George Russell showcased his prowess in the first free practice session (FP1) of the Austrian Grand Prix, topping the timesheets with a blistering performance. The Mercedes driver was closely followed by Alpine`s Pierre Gasly, who secured fifth place, while McLaren`s Alex Dunne made an impressive debut, finishing sixth. Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top eight, with Racing Bulls` Isack Hadjar completing the top ten behind the ever-consistent Lewis Hamilton.

As the sun set over the Red Bull Ring, the second free practice session (FP2) saw McLaren`s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri dominate the track, showcasing their speed and strategy. Aston Martin`s Lance Stroll finished fourth, while Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc, who sat out FP1 to allow F2 driver Dino Beganovic to take the wheel, finished fifth after Beganovic placed 18th in his debut. Russell continued to impress, finishing sixth in FP2, just ahead of Red Bull`s Yuki Tsunoda and Aston Martin`s Fernando Alonso. Notably, Hamilton faced an FIA investigation for an impeding incident but escaped with just a warning.

With qualifying set for Saturday at 4 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. IST) and the main race on Sunday at 3 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. IST), the excitement is palpable as top drivers gear up for a thrilling weekend.

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