12:29
Antonelli bails and returns to the pits. That will be his session over.
Leclerc in Austria
© XPB Images
F1 Austrian GP Saturday practice and qualifying as it happened
Live coverage of Saturday at the F1 Austrian Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Austrian weekend declared a 'Heat Hazard'
- Antonelli topped both Friday sessions
- Ferrari device banned with FIA clampdown
The eighth round of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes place at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Red Bull Ring is a firm favourite among drivers and fans, with the long straights and heavy braking zones providing ample opportunities for overtaking action and, more importantly in the modern era, generating electrical energy back into the batteries.
Mercedes arrives in Austria looking to bounce back from a first defeat of the campaign, with Lewis Hamilton having toppled his former team in Barcelona with the assistance of a significant Ferrari upgrade package. However, Mercedes has been forced to remove some serrated edging on its diffuser in response to an FIA technical directive. While it is speculated that this will cost time, Mercedes believes the matter has been overplayed.
This weekend, it is Red Bull which brings the most new parts to the table, as the team attempts to pull closer to the top three outfits, having dropped back in recent weeks.
Kimi Antonelli topped both Friday sessions as George Russell was unable to deliver a clean effort. This left McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the top three, with Russell cautious of the threat consistently posed by the papaya team in hot conditions.
While Mercedes was forced to make changes to its diffuser due to an FIA technical directive, Ferrari has since been told that its exhaust winglet will not be allowed in 2027, with a new draft of the technical regulations detailing the change.
2026 Austrian Grand Prix Saturday schedule
FP3: 11:30am BST - 12:30pm BST
Qualifying: 3:00pm BST - 4:00pm BST
27 Jun 2026
14:37
Welcome back!
We're back! Qualifying is less than half an hour away, and this is a very open session, despite Mercedes having led the way in every session so far.
13:15
Secret McLaren talks emerge as Max Verstappen evaluates F1 options
Secret McLaren talks emerge as Max Verstappen evaluates F1 options
Max Verstappen’s camp has reportedly held preliminary talks with McLaren, fuelling rumours that the four-time Formula 1 world champion could make a bombshell switch from Red Bull.
Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028 but is understood to have an exit clause in his current deal that would enable him to join another team in 2027 should he be outside the top two in the drivers’ championship by the start of the summer break in August.
Verstappen could join Lambiase at McLaren, if rumours are to be believed
13:14
Toto Wolff confirms George Russell to remain at Mercedes with Max Verstappen 'off the radar'
Toto Wolff confirms George Russell to remain at Mercedes with Max Verstappen 'off the radar'
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed that George Russell will remain with Mercedes into the 2027 season, despite Max Verstappen potentially being available for hire.
With Mercedes leading the way in the constructors' championship and failing to win only once this term, the team is an attractive proposition for any driver. And in the case of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, the admiring looks have been shot in both directions.
Wolff has confirmed that Antonelli and Russell will remain with Mercedes
© XPB Images
12:49
George Russell bounces back as Ferrari close up in tight final practice at F1 Austrian GP
George Russell bounces back as Ferrari close up in tight final practice at F1 Austrian GP
George Russell set the pace ahead of Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Ferrari closed in during a tight final practice at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Russell left it late to shoot to the top of the timesheet in FP3 as he edged championship leader Antonelli by just 0.038 seconds, having spent the weekend so far playing catch up to his Mercedes team-mate.
Russell set the pace in final practice
12:48
2026 F1 Austrian Grand Prix - Final Practice Results
2026 F1 Austrian Grand Prix - Final Practice Results
George Russell bounced back in final practice at the Austrian Grand Prix to top final practice.
The Mercedes driver had lagged behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the Friday sessions, but turned the tables with a late effort in FP3.
Hadjar in Austria
© XPB Images
12:31
Top 10
- Russell
- Antonelli
- Hamilton
- Piastri
- Norris
- Verstappen
- Leclerc
- Hadjar
- Lawson
- Lindblad
12:31
Chequered flag
Russell ends FP3 at the top of the pile, with Antonelli in P2 and Hamilton just behind. Piastri and Norris complete the top five.
12:29
Hold the phone. Antonelli is now improving. This will be very tight.
12:28
Russell is on a personal best effort and moves to the top with a 1m07.096s. He goes 0.038s faster than Antonelli on used tyres.
12:24
Sainz crosses the line in P16. With Albon in P17, this looks like it could be a tough weekend for Williams.
12:22
Antonelli is back out on the same set of tyres. No changes made to the car, and he's going again.
12:18
Piastri is massively improving but goes only P6. The times, aside from Antonelli, are extremely tight.
12:17
The track temperature has gone up, and Hamilton goes second, with Norris and Verstappen also bettering Russell. But the Mercedes driver is on a lap.
Russell goes back to P3.
12:16
ANtonelli will be one of the first drivers to set a time, but it's not an improvement yet. He falls 0.05s off his previous best, and it would have been good enough to better anymore else still.
12:15
Alonso returns to the pits, as he complains about not being able to turn his Aston Martin.
12:15
Here we go. 15 minutes remain, and the final quali sims are incoming!
12:10
The track has quietened down a bit now, with only half the field on the track, and most of those on the way back to the garages. One more round of qualifying simulations are likely on the way. This is when you don't want to find the wall!
12:07
Top 10
With 20 minutes remaining, the top 10 is:
- Antonelli
- Russell
- Leclerc
- Verstappen
- Piastri
- Norris
- Hamilton
- Lawson
- Gasly
- Hadjar
12:04
Antonelli improves again with a 1m07.134s effort. Front suspension work is taking place on Russell's car.
Highlighting Aston Martin's problems, Alonso is only 0.336s clear of the 107% cutoff.
12:01
Here comes Antonelli for a second simulation. Norris moves up to P3 with his latest effor, 0.148 shy of the benchmark.
At the foot of the order, no surprises, it's Aston Martin. Stroll and Alonso are not even in the same postcode as the next team.
12:00
Antonelli has completed only one qualifying simulation. Russell completes his third, and still falls 0.017s off his Mercedes team-mate.
11:57
Enter Leclerc! The second Ferrari driver has had a stinker of a time lately, but goes P2. Another car in the pole battle? Yes please!
11:54
And now Russell goes P2 for a Mercedes 1-2. He's 0.173s back on Antonelli, but this looks like we could be set for an incredible qualifying session later on.
Hamilton now improves to P3, putting Ferrari in the mix.
11:52
Hold on though, here's Antonelli with a 1m07.533s, putting him to the top, as Verstappen shows pace with Red Bull for the first time to go second!