Piastri admits McLaren ‘a step behind’ Antonelli in Austria

McLaren showcased strong pace during Friday’s practice at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri securing second place in FP2. Despite the positive showing, Piastri acknowledged that Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli currently holds a performance advantage, noting that Antonelli’s pace on soft tires was particularly impressive. Technical challenges persisted for the team throughout the day, including brake consistency issues for Piastri and a hydraulic leak that limited Lando Norris’s track time. While the team remains cautious about their competitive standing, they are focused on optimizing their setup to close the gap on their rivals throughout the remainder of the race weekend.