Photo: Audi

Nico Müller fastest in wet final free practice

By

Audi Sport Team Abt Sportline driver Nico Müller was the fastest driver in a very wet and uneventful third free practice session at the Red Bull Ring.

The Styrian circuit had light rain falling on the track during the session which made it difficult for the teams to work on the setup for today’s qualifying and race that are expected to take place in dry conditions.

Müller set a best lap time of 1:33.797, with Edoardo Mortara the fastest Mercedes-AMG in second place, 0.446 seconds behind. Müller’s team-mate Robin Frijns was third, with Team HWA’s Gary Paffett next, six tenths off the pace.

Audi Sport Team Phoenix’ Mike Rockenfeller was fifth, followed by Mercedes-AMG’s Pascal Wehrlein, 0.696 seconds off the pace.

Loïc Duval was seventh with yesterday’s winner René Rast next for Audi Sport, with the reigning champion 0.729 seconds off the pace.

Mercedes-AMG drivers Paul di Resta and Lucas Auer completed the top ten, with the local hero 0.774 seconds behind Müller.

Müller said after the session: “It was very slippery out there but lots of fun. The car was really good today, we’ve made some changes since yesterday and they seem to work in these conditions. If there isn’t more rain coming it will be a dry qualifying and we will see if we are in the same place then.”

The qualifying session for Race 2 is scheduled for 10:30 CEST.