F1 Teams Arrive at Red Bull Ring as 2026 Austrian GP Weekend Gets Under Way
The Formula 1 paddock has opened in Spielberg for the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix, Round 8 of the season (26-28 June). Championship leader Kimi Antonelli topped both Friday practice sessions for Mercedes, while Red Bull brought a seven-part upgrade package to its home circuit. Qualifying takes place Saturday 27 June; the race follows on Sunday 28 June at 15:00 local time.
The paddock opens in Spielberg
Formula 1's travelling circus has arrived at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, for the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix. [2] The event, officially titled the Formula 1 Lenovo Austrian Grand Prix 2026, is scheduled across the weekend of 26 to 28 June and serves as Round 8 of the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. [1] Practice sessions opened on Friday 26 June, with qualifying set for Saturday 27 June and the race following on Sunday 28 June at 15:00 local time (CEST). [2]
Antonelli dominates both Friday sessions
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli set the tone for Mercedes immediately upon arriving at the 4.318 km Styrian circuit. [4] The Italian topped Free Practice 1 with a 1m 07.796s, edging team-mate George Russell by just 0.040s, with Oscar Piastri third for McLaren. [4] Antonelli then backed that performance up in FP2, setting a 1m 07.014s to finish 0.237s clear of Piastri, with Lando Norris third. [3] Russell slipped to sixth across the afternoon after a less structured FP2 run. [3]
Going into the weekend, [2] Antonelli leads the Drivers' Championship with 156 points, 41 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton in second; Mercedes heads the Constructors' standings with 262 points, ahead of Ferrari (190) and McLaren (141).
Upgrade bonanza at the home of Red Bull
Several teams arrived in Spielberg with substantial development packages. [5] Red Bull brought their most aggressive upgrade push of the 2026 season; FIA documents confirmed seven separate components, covering a mix of reliability and performance elements including a revised floor, sidepods and weight-saving measures. [5] Cadillac arrived with ten new components, while Audi also brought seven. [5] McLaren introduced a 'Macarena' wing alongside changes to the rear brake ducts. [5]
The upgrade test did not begin smoothly for Red Bull. [10] Max Verstappen was halted in the pit lane in FP1 by an anti-stall problem, while Isack Hadjar was also delayed by car issues, severely restricting both drivers' ability to evaluate the new package. [10] By FP2 Verstappen recovered to finish fourth, but both he and Hadjar reported persistent grip concerns at Turn 3. [8] Technical director Pierre Wache acknowledged an engine-related issue at that corner that the team needed to resolve before qualifying. [8]
:::analysis Red Bull's Friday tells a familiar early-season story: significant hardware arrives, but driveability and integration take time, especially on a compact, high-traction circuit like the Red Bull Ring. Autosport noted Verstappen described the session as "hit-and-miss," which accurately captures the gap between hardware potential and track readiness. Mercedes, by contrast, converted clean running into a decisive practice sweep. Whether overnight setup work can close that gap before Saturday's qualifying session is the key question heading into the weekend's critical hours. :::
What happens next
FP3 runs on Saturday 27 June at 12:30 local time, ahead of qualifying at 16:00. [2] The race itself covers 71 laps of the 4.318 km Red Bull Ring on Sunday 28 June. [11] Formula 2, Formula 3 and the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup are the confirmed support categories across the full weekend. [2]
Related reading
- [1]FORMULA 1 LENOVO AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2026 - full timetable (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [2]2026 Austrian Grand Prix - Wikipedia (wikipedia). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [3]F1 Austrian GP: Antonelli completes perfect Friday by topping FP2 (autosport). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [4]2026 Austrian Grand Prix FP1 report: Antonelli sets the pace from Russell and Piastri (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [5]Red Bull unleash major seven-part upgrade package ahead of Austrian GP (planetf1). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [6]Austrian GP: Kimi Antonelli completes Friday practice double as George Russell struggles (skysports). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [7]Red Bull to bring second major upgrade of 2026 in Austria - what to expect (autosport). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [8]Why Red Bull suffered 'hit-and-miss' issues during first test of crucial F1 upgrade (motorsport). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [9]'We need to get it sorted' - Hadjar suggests Red Bull 'feels like the usual' after upgrades in Austria (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [10]Verstappen and Norris problems; Mercedes control Austria FP1 (planetf1). Accessed 2026-06-27.
- [11]Austrian Grand Prix 2026: Race start time, how to watch, full schedule (espn). Accessed 2026-06-27.