Mercedes showed promising pace during the first day of practice at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix, with Kimi Antonelli setting the fastest time and George Russell placing sixth. Despite this strong start, the team remains cautious about their prospects as the weekend unfolds.
Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord highlighted that Mercedes expects stiff competition from McLaren, Red Bull Racing, and Ferrari. He noted that rival teams might be running their power units conservatively during practice sessions, potentially holding back performance that could emerge later in qualifying and the race.
George Russell also shared insights into the team's situation, mentioning balance issues with the car—experiencing oversteer at low speeds and understeer at higher speeds. However, he pointed out that their long-run pace was solid. Russell added that the pace shown in the first practice session might have been somewhat inflated due to technical problems faced by some rivals, while McLaren’s performance in the second session was particularly impressive. He expressed surprise at McLaren’s strong single-lap and race pace, especially highlighting Lando Norris’s competitiveness.
The Red Bull Ring’s track limits continue to be a critical factor for qualifying and race performance, adding another layer of challenge for all teams. With several strong contenders in the mix, the weekend’s sessions are shaping up to be closely fought.
Mercedes’s cautious approach reflects an understanding that early practice times do not guarantee dominance. The team is aware that McLaren, Red Bull Racing, and Ferrari could reveal more pace as the weekend progresses, making the battle for pole position and race victory highly competitive.
Overall, Mercedes’s comments and performance underline the competitive nature of the field at the Austrian Grand Prix. The team’s focus remains on managing the car’s balance and extracting consistent pace, while keeping an eye on the evolving performance of their rivals.
