Kimi Antonelli stunned the Formula 1 world this morning with a blazing lap that left even the sport’s most experienced champions scrambling to take part in the opening practice session for the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix.
The young Italian, driving for Mercedes, was fastest at the Red Bull Ring with a time of 1m07.796s, just 0.040s behind teammate George Russell. Oscar Piastri took third place in the McLaren, trailing Antonelli by a little more than a tenth of a second. Reigning champion Max Verstappen could only manage fourth for Red Bull, while Lewis Hamilton – now in Ferrari Red – rounded out the top five, more than six tenths behind the leader.
This session was not just about lap times; It was a seismic shift in the pecking order that sent shock waves through the paddock. Mercedes, often the team to beat but recently struggling with inconsistency, made a statement of intent with a one-two finish in practice. Antonelli’s rapid adaptation to top-level racing is fueling speculation about the sport’s next superstar, while Russell’s consistency reinforces Mercedes’ credentials as a title contender. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s gamble on Hamilton appears to be paying off, as the experienced Briton remains within striking distance despite new competition.
The midfield was also a center of intrigue. Arvid Lindblad, a relative newcomer to Racing Bulls, left behind established stars such as Lando Norris and Franco Colapinto. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Ferrari’s Dino Beganovic each completed the top ten, while Haas newbie Ollie Bearman impressed by finishing tenth – his gap to Antonelli was just 1.275 seconds. Additionally, Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg and Red Bull’s Isak Hadjar struggled to stay within two seconds of the benchmark.
It was a session that exposed vulnerabilities and raised eyebrows. Valtteri Bottas, now with Cadillac, and Pierre Gasly at Alpine found themselves locked in a tight midfield battle. Racing Bulls’ Ayumu Iwasa and Williams’ Alex Albon were both more than 1.8 seconds behind, highlighting the constant pressure of drivers fighting for relevancy. Down the order, rookies like Paul Aron (Audi), Luke Browning (Williams), and Ryo Hirakawa (Haas) endured a baptism of fire, with lap times well outside the leaders.
Aston Martin’s troubles continued as Jack Crawford and the great Fernando Alonso finished bottom of the timesheets – more than three seconds off Antonelli’s pace. Sergio Pérez, now in Cadillac colors, fared slightly better.
The young Italian’s impressive performance attracted both admiration and disbelief in equal measure. “It’s exactly the kind of start we expected,” Antonelli said after the session. “The car looked fantastic from the first lap. We know it’s only practice, but the confidence is there and the team is working brilliantly.” George Russell echoed this sentiment: “It’s great to see both cars at the top. Kimi is pushing her limits and we need to step up our game.”
The implications of this session are huge. Mercedes, with Antonelli’s fresh aggression and Russell’s experience, looks set to disrupt the established hierarchy. Ferrari’s investment in Hamilton appears to be paying off, but the question remains: can the Scuderia close the gap to the Silver Arrows? Red Bull, which has been the benchmark on home soil for years, finds itself in unfamiliar territory – chasing rather than leading.
As the weekend begins, all eyes will be on whether Mercedes can maintain this momentum or whether Red Bull and Ferrari will strike back. Antonelli’s sensational pace has made the challenge easy. The grid is on notice. In Austria, nothing is certain—and everything is available.
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