Summary

  • George Russell tops final practice ahead of Mercedes' team-mate Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton

  • Qualifying in Spielberg starts at 15:00 BST

  • Commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live (UK only)

  • Antonelli topped both practice sessions on Friday

  • Italian teenager leads Hamilton by 41 points in title race

  • Austrian Grand Prix declared heat-hazard race amid heatwave

  • Send us your views by selecting 'Get Involved'

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  1. Report: Russell tops final practice ahead of team-mate Antonellipublished at 12:43 BST

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent

    George RussellImage source, Getty Images

    George Russell prevented Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli from achieving a clean sweep of practice sessions at the Austrian Grand Prix with the fastest time in the final session as the Formula 1 teams prepared for qualifying.

    Russell led the Italian by 0.038 seconds, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton 0.115secs off the pace in third.

    McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were fourth and fifth, separated by 0.015secs and just over 0.2secs off the pace.

    Max Verstappen in the upgraded Red Bull was sixth fastest, split from team-mate Isack Hadjar by the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

    An uneventful session suggested a tight fight for pole position later on Saturday but the Mercedes drivers are still favourite to edge out Hamilton.

    The signs for Ferrari’s upgraded engine are positive so far on this power-sensitive circuit, but judgement remains out on Red Bull’s chassis upgrade.

  2. See you at 14:30 BSTpublished at 12:42 BST

    Time for us to take a short break!

    We will be back at 14:30 BST to build up to qualifying.

    Can George Russell take pole in qualifying or will Kimi Antonelli pip him to the top spot?

    Lights out for Q1 at 15:00 BST.

    Go get an ice lolly and enjoy the sunshine, but be back here for 14:30.

    See you then!

  3. And the restpublished at 12:39 BST

    11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

    12. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

    13. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

    14. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

    15. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

    16. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

    17. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

    18. Alex Albon (Williams)

    19. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

    20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

    21. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

    22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

  4. Top 10published at 12:36 BST

    1. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:07.096

    2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.038

    3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.115

    4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.248

    5. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.264

    6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.273

    7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.356

    8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.816

    9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +0.935

    10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +1.013

  5. chequered flag

    Chequered flagpublished at 12:31 BST

    George Russell is the fastest driver in third practice.

    His team-mate Kimi Antonelli was cruising away at the top but it looks like the last minute set-up change for Russell worked.

    Can he do it again in qualifying later on?

    Antonelli finishes in second and Lewis Hamilton is third.

    Hamilton locks up on his way into the pit lane but no matter, session is over now.

    George RussellImage source, Getty Images
  6. Team radio - Hadjar to Red Bullpublished at 12:31 BST

    Hadjar: "What's happening in Turn 1 and Turn 3?! Turn 3, like let's stop acting like I'm braking hard, OK? The thing just locks up completely!"

  7. Russell fastestpublished at 12:29 BST

    George Russell has quietly overtaken his team-mate to the top spot now.

    He is on a lap time of 1:07.096.

    George RussellImage source, Getty Images
  8. Postpublished at 12:28 BST

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

    It looks like Charles Leclerc is struggling under braking in his Ferrari and it's something that's plagued him in his past couple of grands prix.

    Lewis now has has a few good races where he's been clearly the fastest of the two Ferrari drivers and he's looked comfortable with the car beneath him.

  9. Four years, four winnerspublished at 12:26 BST

    A split picture of Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, George Russell and Lando NorrisImage source, Getty Images

    We have seen four different winners at the Austrian Grand Prix, over the past four years.

    Charles Leclerc won in 2022 with Ferrari, Max Verstappen in the Red Bull in 2023, Mercedes' George Russell in 2024 and McLaren's Lando Norris in 2025.

  10. Postpublished at 12:26 BST

    Five minutes to go. Soft tyres have been bolted on and time for the last few laps before the session comes to an end.

    Kimi Antonelli is still at the top of the leaderboard, followed by Lewis Hamilton and team-mate George Russell.

    Kimi AntonelliImage source, Getty Images
  11. get involved

    Get Involved - who will take pole position?published at 12:25 BST

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    Surprise of the weekend will be Max I reckon. Kimi to beat Russell in the race.

    Simon, Milton Keynes

  12. Postpublished at 12:24 BST

    Esteban Ocon and the two Cadillacs and two Aston Martins make up the bottom five.

    Carlos Sainz was in that 18th spot but managed to get his car up to 16th.

  13. Team radio - Lindblad to Racing Bullspublished at 12:23 BST

    Lindblad: "I'm really struggling with confidence with these brakes. I feel like I have a lot of pulling."

  14. Postpublished at 12:22 BST

    Arvid Lindblad has been on the radio to say he is struggling with confidence on the brakes.

    The Racing Bulls driver is ninth at the moment, just behind his team-mate Liam Lawson.

    Arvid LindbladImage source, Getty Images
  15. Team radio - Verstappen to Red Bullpublished at 12:21 BST

    Verstappen: "I have a constant frequency now in my ear from the radio."

  16. Postpublished at 12:20 BST

    As soon as I published the top five entry, McLaren's Lando Norris shoots up to fourth and Red Bull's Max Verstappen in fifth.

    Ten minutes left of the final practice session.

    Verstappen is back on the radio, he still has issues with the frequency from the team radio.

    Lando NorrisImage source, Getty Images
  17. Postpublished at 12:19 BST

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

    It's interesting that Hamilton's fastest in the first sector because that's where the straights are.

  18. Top 5published at 12:18 BST

    1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

    2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

    3. George Russell (Mercedes)

    4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

    5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

  19. Team radio - Alonso to Aston Martinpublished at 12:16 BST

    Alonso: "I cannot turn the car so there is something wrong at the front."

  20. Postpublished at 12:14 BST

    I'm not sure how I will explain to the bosses why there is pet chat on the F1 live...

    Championship leader Kimi Antonelli is back in the garage for a bit, as is quite a few of the drivers.

    It's just Alex Albon, Gabriel Bortoleto, Arvid Lindblad, Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas and Fernando Alonso out on the track at the moment.

    Alonso has been on the radio to say he cannot turn the car and has returned to the pits.