At the start of FP1 of the 2023 Austrian GP, in a weekend marked by a new sprint shootout.
FP1: free with blocks
While Max makes his first fuchsias, we observe the tires of the first ones riders who took to the track, including him. The choice of their teams has veered towards white rubber, seen the new sprint shootout qualification. Where there is media obligation in Q1 e Q2 and red in Q3 (also used). Shortly afterwards the first blockage: Carlos Sainz, as it passes in front of reporter Marc Gené, it locks up before taking a curve. But everything is fine: the driver from Madrid soon recovers the trajectory.
So, a Nando always fit lower by two seconds Max Verstappen's time, but with the rubber media. In the meantime, Pérez lags a bit and loses in the central sector, which is why he lifts his foot. Later it is Leclerc to go a little wide at the same point as Sainz. However, theSainz's car it's well balanced, I am going to Red Bull. Braking is more challenging for everyone because this is an uphill track.
Updates: news from all the teams during FP1
Classic Ferrari for sale: revised on fondo, with just one step since flow diverter. The floor fence are well visiblei compared to previous conveyors, and this time rounded, as in RB e AM. As for thefront: the end plate, the external diverter è almost flat and turned upward. On the front portion of the wing a new main plate. All of this to move the lateral flows to the front wheels. Even the nose, full, of the wing has been changed: it has a small space first of the beginning of the main plate. And they have changed too a part of the belly.
McLaren: New entry for the air in radiant packs. They are working, like all teams, to increase the entrance portion of the bellies, which now have a downward trend. They are also working with the anti-intrusion cones. In these cases, the objective problem of parts production. In fact, it may happen that updates are made to only one car. Like McLaren, who managed to beat them by a GP, but only in Norris' car.
Albon's attempt
Albon is the first to assemble them red tires; then does the first fuchsia sector. No but he manages to better, actually it gets worse in the second and third sectors, remaining at approx 1 second away from Hamilton, Now first. Alonso doesn't even improve, but remains on the hunt for the first, while Max Verstappen complains an excess of understeer. Mostly in curve 4, which in itself creates it because it is a downhill curve, which makes it difficult to reach the apex. Hamilton makes a cross on a curb, but keeps it. While later Leclerc has a locking and an lungo. Then a similar thing happens to a McLaren.
FP1 of Austria: an exciting finale!
After the simulations of the race pace, they come tested le red tires. Meanwhile in Red Bull change the stiffness infront, ma they mount them Yellow on the car Pérez. Bottas va lungo. The Red Bull di Max responds well to modification done at the front, but Leclerc puts her in first position! And Pérez improves to the point that it puts her just 5 cents behind the Monegasque driver! Then it's time to Sainz to make the first and second sectors the best ever, we also improve in the third sector, even if the fuchsia there is Stroll's. Anyway surpasses his teammate!
While in Tsunoda loses some power in the engine, but the team invites him to push, and Logan Sargeant goes long. Cause windHowever, in general they are noticeable many errors in corner 3. Then Sainz aborts a lap, while Max is asked to slow down and to acquire a constant trend. At that time both i Ferrari drivers attempt the lap again, ma having no more rubber first Leclerc and then Sainz they let it go again. Then De Vries undergoes a braking test by Magnussen, evidently raised, but no one knows why. Furthermore, Leclerc says he struggled in Turn 1 throughout the session. While Norris, despite the updates, finishes last.
At the last minute, Verstappen manages to beat everyone, According to Sainz, third Lerclerc, then: Hamilton, Pérez, Stroll, Magnussen, Alonso, Russell, Zhou, Albon, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Tsunoda, De Vries, Sargeant, Ocon, Gasly and Norris.
