Kimi Antonelli Highlights Tyre Challenge in Austria

Kimi Antonelli believes tyre temperature management will be the decisive factor if Mercedes is to convert its strong Friday pace into victory at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix.

Antonelli topped both FP1 and FP2 at the Red Bull Ring, but warned that the fastest times on Friday do not guarantee success with extreme temperatures expected to remain throughout the weekend.

Europe's ongoing heatwave pushed track temperatures to around 60 degrees Celsius on Friday, while the Red Bull Ring's heavy traction zones placed additional stress on the tyres. Keeping them within the optimum operating window will therefore be a key performance factor.

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"It was a clean and productive day for us. From FP1 onwards, I felt comfortable in the car, which gave us a good platform to build from. The hot conditions will continue to make things challenging, particularly in terms of tyre management. Keeping the tyres in the right working window without overheating is an area we'll continue to focus on," said Antonelli.

The Italian added that Mercedes gathered valuable data throughout Friday's running but stressed that further analysis is still required before qualifying, with conditions likely to evolve overnight.

With the competitive order expected to remain extremely close, Antonelli believes optimising the car's balance and tyre management will be essential if Mercedes is to maintain its advantage through qualifying and Sunday's race.