Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

I will say though, encouraging signs for Hamilton and Ferrari. Hamilton was again the fastest driver in sector one, which is the pit straight and the run up towards Turn Four, Turn Three basically. That is all power, essentially. That is what Ferrari have upgraded their engine to resolve the gap to Mercedes with.

Russell: "Just a bit similar to the FP3 runs. Four wheels sliding"

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

That is quite a gap Antonelli has over a short track 0.176 over Lando Norris' McLaren in second place. But, he ran quite a lot later than Norris and the track will be ramping up with rubber going down although Russell is not improving on the second lap although it is the same set of tyres.

It's all about the conditions right now and you just get the sense there's more pace to come.

The track temperature is two degrees hotter than in FP3.

All 22 drivers are on the soft tyre at this point.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think people like Charles Leclerc, with that time being nearly three tenths off, he might have to put another set of soft tyres on. Which would really not be ideal at this stage of qualifying.

Kimi Antonelli is currently the fastest man on track, followed by Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.

Just over three tenths separate the top five with six minutes left on the clock in Q1.

17. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

18. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

19. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

21. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

I think the Williams cars are looking very vulnerable here this weekend. That car has looked wickedly awkward to drive through the last two corners particularly.

Very high speed right-handers, turns nine and 10. Very challenging, particularly Turn nine which is downhill on entry, the curb rushes up to meet you on the exit.

It is very easy to get that wrong. Both Albon and Sainz have had nasty moments through those two corners in final practice. They are the ones we should keep an eye on as the likely candidates to go out with the Cadillacs and Astons.

Kimi Antonelli's looked fantastic in practice so far but what's he got in the locker on Saturday?

Well he sets a fastest middle sector going into the final few corners and goes quickest in his Mercedes by just under two tenths over Lando Norris with a 1:07.083.

Image source, Getty Images

Verstappen: "A bit too much understeer in high speed"

Purple sectors from everyone as the times come tumbling down.

A reminder we didn't see anyone breach the 1:07 barrier in practice but the pace looks quick this afternoon.

Lando Norris guides his McLaren into top spot in the mean time with a 1:07.259.

Image source, Getty Images

George Russell was fastest in FP3 in his Mercedes and he's out early doors in Q1.

As you might expect, he goes fastest and sets a 1:07.811.

Not too bad but things are going to ramp up fast given the conditions.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

Track temperature is heading towards 53C, air temperature above 33C.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, then. Qualifying is under way.

It's very warm out there and looks like the fans in the stands are clutching fans and umbrellas to try and beat the heat.

Track temperature was bordering on the 60C mark yesterday. Will we see the mercury rising - in more ways than one - today as well?

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

Harry Benjamin ready to guide you through today's qualifying session and he's joined by former McLaren Formula E driver Sam Bird and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson.

To tune in, click the 'listen live' tab at the top of this page, head over to BBC Sounds and search for BBC Radio 5 Live or ask your smart speaker to "play BBC Radio 5 Live".

Come on then, who's getting pole?

Kimi Antonelli looked ominous in his Mercedes in FP1 and FP2 but his team-mate George Russell bagged top spot in FP3 earlier today.

But McLaren looked pacey in the latter stages of Friday's action and Ferrari look like they could have some more power in the bag than they've let on so far.

Select the 'Get Involved' button at the top of this page to have your say.

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Mercedes will be ready to battle for pole in qualifying later today, boss Toto Wolff has said, after George Russell went fastest in FP3 earlier today.

Russell usurped team-mate Kimi Antonelli late on in the session this morning as Mercedes dominated all three practice sessions this weekend.

However McLaren had a strong FP2 while Ferrari look to have withheld some of their speed so far.

"I think it's maybe as good as it gets with the car now. George was struggling a little bit on the braking, it was in a way, shattering, but it's a little bit better with the change they made," Wolff told Sky Sports in reference to Russell's car.

"Now it's gloves off for qualifying."

As for Antonelli's DNF in Barcelona, Wolff said it could be a learning opportunity for the team, who have experienced some reliability issues despite their dominant start to the 2026 season.

"For me, it's always good from time to time when things are running smoothly, to have a little bit of a scare and see what can turn around very quickly.

"You have a DNF like with Kimi, you just finish with one car and with Lewis very fast. It keeps you on your toes and it's good sometimes."

Pirelli have selected the softest compound set for the race in Spielberg.

The C3 hard tyres, C4 mediums and C5 soft compounds have all been packed for the 71-lap race.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari are "a huge threat" for this year's world championship, according to Mercedes driver George Russell.

And Hamilton, who took his first win for Ferrari in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix just under two weeks ago, said of a title challenge: "I don't think it's impossible."

The seven-time champion is 41 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes after his win in Spain, which confirmed he had recovered from a difficult first season with Ferrari.

Russell, who is nine points behind Hamilton, said: "It's great to see Lewis back doing what he does best.

"People were writing him off last year or even the year we were team-mates in '24. You know, 'Is he too old? Is he this? Is he that?' And then he goes and he's been smashing it for the last four or five races.

"It just shows that you don't forget how to drive overnight. You need yourself, your team, the set-up, the understanding of the tyres, everything just to click. And when it clicks, you fly.

"That's where he is at the moment and for sure he is a big threat. Ferrari are a huge threat.

"Kimi is still very much the driver out front and is performing really incredibly and consistently. But Ferrari feel like they're coming and Lewis is at the forefront of that."