Franco Colapinto navigates heat and upgrades in Austrian Grand Prix practice

The intense heat is a significant factor at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, with track temperatures reaching 48 degrees Celsius during the second Formula 1 practice session. This challenging condition requires drivers to exert extra effort, with some, like Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto, seeking relief in cooling vests similar to those used in football.

Argentine driver Franco Colapinto, currently driving for Alpine, is participating in this crucial second practice session. He finished eighth in the first practice and aims to maintain his performance and optimize his car's setup for qualifying. Alpine has introduced several updates to both Colapinto's and Pierre Gasly's cars, focusing on aerodynamic improvements to enhance overall performance.

Championship leader Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, acknowledged the difficulty of the Austrian track but expressed excitement for the race. He anticipates a highly competitive event, noting the strong form of Ferrari and the expected updates from Red Bull, particularly for Max Verstappen, who has a strong record at this circuit.

The schedule for the weekend includes a third practice session on Saturday morning, followed by qualifying. The Austrian Grand Prix itself is set to commence on Sunday morning, with all times listed in Argentina's local time.

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It is not an easy track, but I think it will be a lot of fun. Of course, Ferrari is in great shape. And Red Bull will bring many updates. Max [Verstappen] has always been very strong on this track. I think it will be a very hard-fought race. And I am really looking forward to it starting.