Mercedes Strong Start, Big Fight Ahead

Mercedes hit the ground running at the Austrian GP with Kimi Antonelli topping practice and George Russell in the top six, but the team knows the real battle’s ahead against McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari. Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord warned against complacency, noting rivals like Ferrari could unleash big improvements later in the weekend. Antonelli’s quick adaptation contrasts with Russell’s handling struggles—oversteer in slow corners, understeer in fast ones—but his long-run pace looks solid. Both drivers face tight track limits at Red Bull Ring, and Russell admitted their FP1 edge might’ve been luck, given McLaren’s surge in FP2. Mercedes is focused: Antonelli’s got room to grow, Russell’s got pace, and everyone’s got to be flawless to challenge for pole and victory. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8af41d286dc7b91a