Watch F1 Austrian Grand Prix — Practice 2 Free.

What's at Stake

Practice 2 at the Red Bull Ring is the most critical session for collecting high-fuel data and assessing tire degradation on this short, high-speed circuit. With the championship battle intensifying, teams must perfect their setups to handle the aggressive kerbs and heavy braking zones that define the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.

Form Guide

Heading into Spielberg, the front-runners have shown remarkable consistency across various track layouts, though the narrow margins in recent qualifying sessions suggest a highly competitive field. Red Bull historically performs well at their home circuit, while resurgent challengers have closed the gap in high-speed cornering performance over the last few rounds.

Key Players to Watch

• Max Verstappen — The local favorite often dominates this track and will be looking to establish a benchmark pace during the long runs.
• Lando Norris — Known for his exceptional record at the Red Bull Ring, he remains the primary threat to the lead with his car's current aerodynamic efficiency.
• George Russell — His team has made significant strides in race trim, making his tire management data a vital indicator for Sunday's podium potential.

Prediction

Expect the top three teams to be separated by less than two-tenths of a second during the qualifying simulations before shifting focus to heavy fuel loads. Max Verstappen is likely to end the session with the most consistent long-run averages, though McLaren's late-session pace will signal a very close fight for the race victory.