Alistair: Hamilton can mount a title challenge, sure. Can Ferrari? I am less sure.

Alistair (not the same one) in New York for the World Cup: All the talk about Hamilton and positives which is great to see, but one swallow doesn't make a summer. What is his record here compared to others?

Right then.

What is bound to be a hot and sweaty FP2 is under way.

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

Harry Benjamin is in position again to guide you through today's action and he's joined by British racing driver Abbie Eaton and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson.

You can listen to all the action in FP2 on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2.

To tune in to second practice, click the 'listen live' tab at the top of this page, head over to the BBC Sounds app if you're out and about today or ask your smart speaker to "play Sports Extra 2".

In the aftermath of Lewis Hamilton's win in Barcelona, he clarified that he had been dealing with an injury sustained at the track last year.

It was a difficult maiden season for Hamilton with Ferrari as he finished sixth in the drivers' standings, without scoring a podium finish, however he did win the sprint race at last year's Chinese Grand Prix.

"I hit the wall very hard last year in testing," he said. "Knocked out one of the discs in my neck. Protruding into the nerve. So couldn't do a lot for nine weeks.

"So, I was just having chiropractors every day. Physio every day, I couldn't sleep. I had to get injections. I did everything I could to try to fix it.

"So, that's what I was basically trying to live with. Which is not easy in the seating position that you're sitting in."

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Fernando Alonso has reiterated his commitment to Aston Martin.

The two-time champion's remarks come after some media reports that Alpine were interested in him for next season.

Alonso, who is 45 next month, is out of contract at the end of the year and has not yet decided whether to stay on in Formula 1.

But he has reiterated a point he has made many times before about wanting to stay involved with Aston Martin whether or not he continues driving in F1.

"I want to win a world championship with Aston Martin, with or without driving," Alonso said.

"That's still the same commitment in my case."

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."

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Kimi Antonelli led George Russell in a Mercedes one-two in first practice at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Italian headed Russell by just 0.04 seconds and Oscar Piastri's McLaren was just 0.117secs off the pace in third. Team-mate Lando Norris was seventh fastest after missing three-quarters of the session with a hydraulics problem.

Max Verstappen, running a major aerodynamic upgrade on the Red Bull, was fourth, 0.281secs behind Antonelli.

Lewis Hamilton, winner of the last race in Spain and with an engine upgrade in his Ferrari, was 0.665secs off the pace. The seven-time champion did not sound happy with his car in the brief radio transmission that was broadcast.

Briton Arvid Lindblad was sixth for Racing Bulls, and behind Norris Alpine's Franco Colapinto was eighth, ahead of Swede Dino Beganovic in Charles Leclerc's Ferrari.

Briton Oliver Bearman completed the top 10 in the Haas.

Read the full report here.

Jay Freeman
BBC Sport

There's just no escaping the heat, is there?

Much like Lando Norris and Max Verstappen hauled their respective McLaren and Red Bulls around the track earlier despite mechanical issues, I shall haul myself into talking you through FP2 despite this ridiculous weather.

Kimi Antonelli led the way in FP1 but will the heat continue to play its part and cause some drama again this afternoon?

The second practice session of the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix gets under way soon.

So then. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli led the way in FP1, slightly ahead of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell.

Oscar Piastri hauled his McLaren into third with an impressive time which was only slightly outdone by the two Mercedes while Max Versappen put some mechanical issues behind him to go fourth fastest.

In-form Lewis Hamilton was fifth fastest and was six tenths off Antonelli with plenty to play for when we return for FP2.

Speaking of which, let's go and cool down, shall we? We'll be back at 15:45 BST with lights going green at 16:00.

Think cool thoughts, folks, It's hot out there.

11. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

12. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)

13. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

15. Ayumu Iwasa (Racing Bulls)

16. Alex Albon (Williams)

17. Paul Aron (Audi)

18. Luke Browning (Williams)

19. Ryo Hirakawa (Haas)

20. Jak Crawford (Aston Martin)

21. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

22. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

1. Kimi Antontelli (Mercedes) - 1:07.796

2. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.040

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.117

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.281

5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.665

6. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +0.930

7. Lando Norris (McLaren) +1.077

8. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +1.166

9. Dino Beganovic (Ferrari) +1.258

10. Ollie Bearman (Haas) +1.275

Red flagpublished at 13:30 BST 26 June

13:30 BST 26 June

A red flag with just a minute left on the clock.

Sergio Perez' Cadillac comes to a halt on track.

Given the time, this could affect those who want to do a practice start after the session officially comes to an end.

Three minutes left in the session and it's not looking like anyone's going to top Kimi Antonelli's 1:07.796.

Other than his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, only Oscar Piastri has been able to get into the 1:07s.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

It's Lewis Hamilton who looks a bit out of sorts currently. He's six tenths off Kimi Antonelli's pace-setting time in fifth place in the Ferrari. And that's on the soft tyres as well.

But it's only first practice. We don't know fuel loads, etc, etc.

David: Lewis can do it, Ferrari can take the constructors' title, but it will take a 100% perfect run from everyone in the team.

Dan: Historically, the European leg of the season is where Lewis has really put his foot down (Silverstone, Spa, Hungary, Monza). With his strength at these circuits and experience of chasing the leader, only a fool would rule him out.

Lando Norris' first effort on track results in a seventh-fastest finish with a 1:08.873.

He is a bit of an outlier in the top 16 in that he's set that on the medium tyre rather than a set of softs, however.

Abbie Eaton
British racing driver on Sports Extra 2

Picking a number one driver is a tough decision for a team to make. I think both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are quite nice in the way they operate; I kind of get the vibe that between them, it's a bit like 'after you, no, after you' to a certain degree.

But, Lewis is second in the championship at the moment, so you would have to argue if that continues moving forward, it's going to have to be Lewis.

1. Kimi Antontelli (Mercedes) - 1:07.796

2. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.040

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.117

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.281

5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.665

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

Lando Norris is emerging from the pits with 14 minutes on the clock. McLaren have been fixing a suspected hydraulics issue on the car, consigning him to the garage for the majority of this session.

McLaren will be hoping to get some data on that new rear wing that they're running.