Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"Can Ferrari take the fight to Mercedes this weekend? BBC F1 analyst Allan McNish believes so - he says he saw enough in Canada to believe that the engine upgrade that was introduced on the red cars there would have put Sebastian Vettel in a position to challenge for the front row had he not had his engine problems in qualifying. And as the Red Bull Ring has similar characteristics, the same goes for here. Vettel himself was keeping expectations in check, though.

Image source, AFP

"'We also have to be realistic [in] challenging the Mercedes.,' Vettel said. 'We know that first of all we need to have a flawless weekend, and maybe hoping for them to have a little bit of a struggle. In normal circumstances it is quite difficult to beat them as they are still the favourites going in and there is still quite a big gap.'"

The lights go green and the first practice session is under way.

Here's your playground, boys:

Image source, F1

Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live analyst

"Williams have brought a number of new upgrades here."

Just to mark your card for one personnel change in the upcoming session.

British driver Jolyon Palmer will be at the wheel of the Lotus for his fourth FP1 outing of the season. He replaces regular driver Romain Grosjean.

This is the first of five successive FP1 outings for the reigning GP2 champion, who is certainly getting some invaluable F1 mileage under his belt in 2015.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"A bit more info on the penalty that Fernando Alonso will get for Honda changing various parts of his engine. We still don't have an absolute answer, but Honda said this morning that they have changed the internal combustion engine and the energy store - so that's at least 15 places on the grid - and the company say they may yet change more. Honda will only know their approach with Jenson Button, who is likely also to have a penalty, after he has run in practice."

Lotus on Twitter:, external It feels quite humid & rained first thing but the sun is attempting to come out!

Image source, Lotus

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"Huge grid penalty notwithstanding, there will be a lot of focus on Fernando Alonso's McLaren this weekend. The team have a major aerodynamic upgrade package here, with a shorter nose and revised front and rear wings, and the team is expecting a marked step forward in performance. There is only one, though, and it's Alonso's turn to get it, after Jenson Button had the privilege back in China in April, when there was only one new floor."

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren on Twitter:, external Good morning from a damp (but drying) Friday in Austria. Set up is in full swing ahead of FP1.

Image source, McLaren

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"This will be a weekend dominated by penalties for several drivers, with Fernando Alonso already looking at at least a 15- or 20-place grid penalty, McLaren team-mate Jenson Button waiting to see whether he will face a second weekend of grid penalties after McLaren assess his situation following his running on Friday, and Red Bull are also to change the engines in both cars, taking Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat onto their fifth engine, and therefore penalties for each, the extent of which - as with McLaren - is not yet clear.

Image source, Getty Images

"The reason for this rash of engine changes? The Red Bull Ring is a track that rewards power and on which a good chassis, such as Red Bull and McLaren have, makes less of a difference because the corners are generally short. So it make sense to take the hit in Austria, where they expect a difficult weekend anyway, that at other tracks on which the cars should go better."

Image source, Getty Images

Good news for all fans of excitement. It's been raining overnight.

Let's face it, a bit of rain does make things better, doesn't it? It certainly provided the only real moment of drama in Canada last time out (groundhogs aside), when Lewis Hamilton aquaplaned off in practice.

Esteemed BBC weatherman Ian Fergusson has been on Twitter, external this morning stating that the mountains to the north of the circuit "will offer fair shelter against most showers".

However, he says that while there should be a lot of dry running today "a few showers" are possible.

Red Bull on Twitter:, external Good morning from the Red Bull Ring! Back on home turf, ready for the track action to begin.

Image source, Red Bull Racing

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

"The Red Bull Ring is in a spectacular location that, in terms of verdant magnificence, is unmatched in F1 even by Spa. But while the Styrian mountains are easy on the eye, this kind of landscape brings with it the inevitability of changeable weather. And that's what Formula 1 faces this weekend.

"It rained overnight, and there is the chance of showers for the rest of Friday and into Saturday, although the race should be dry. If it does rain through first and second practice, wet weather will inevitably limit running. But a spot of rain always livens things up and this track is a tricky little place at the best of times so action should not be in short supply."

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning all. Welcome along to round eight of F1 2015.

For many a year this would have been the halfway point of the campaign, but in this brave new world of 20-race seasons it feels like we're still just warming up.

Although with a handful of wins under his belt already, Lewis Hamilton would probably says he is fully warmed up and in the swing of things.

The Mercedes man is aiming for victory number five of the year this weekend and with it an increased championship lead.

But first, he and 19 other men need to do some practice. They're heading out at 09:00 BST