---
title: "Five things we learned on Friday in Austria"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2018/06/29/five-things-we-learned-on-friday-in-austria/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kyran Gibbons"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2018-06-29T17:56:08Z"
modified: "2018-06-29T17:56:08Z"
---

# Five things we learned on Friday in Austria

Aerodynamic upgrades seemed to have the desired effect for Mercedes in Austria, as Lewis Hamilton led Valtteri Bottas at the top of the timesheet in both practice sessions on Friday.

Hamilton, who enters the weekend on the back of victory at the French Grand Prix to retake the championship lead, was 0.176 seconds clear of Bottas in FP2.

Mercedes debuted a significant overhaul of its aerodynamic package on Friday. Tweaked bargeboards, brand-new mirror mounts and McLaren-inspired rear wing endplates were among the significant changes.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was 0.236s adrift of Hamilton’s benchmark. Considering that a full lap takes just 64s at the Red Bull Ring – the quickest lap of the F1 season – it marks a strong start to the weekend by Mercedes.

However, there is a caveat and Mercedes might find that it is under pressure when the green light signals the start of Q3 on Saturday.

Here are FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED on Friday at the Austrian Grand Prix.