Formula One leaders Mercedes showed they were undaunted by a new track today, dominating the first practice sessions ahead of Sunday's returning Austrian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap of the day at one minute and 9.542 seconds, finishing 0.377 seconds ahead of teammate and current championship leader Nico Rosberg in the second practice session.
In the morning, it was Rosberg who had led the field ahead of Hamilton around the 4.3-kilometre Red Bull Ring track.
The two Mercedes drivers were the only ones to dip below the 1min 10sec mark, showing they were at ease on the historic Spielberg track, despite this being their first F1 outing on it.
The last time Spielberg hosted a Formula One event was in 2003 so Friday's free practice was the drivers' first real opportunity to get to know the track and gather information ahead of Sunday's race.
Prior experience indeed seemed to play a major role with Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Jenson Button -- all of whom raced here a decade ago -- clocking some of the fastest times behind Mercedes.
But drivers have insisted their initial lack of knowledge will hardly matter once the first practice sessions are done and dusted.
Ferrari's Alonso was closest to Mercedes's times in both sessions on Friday but still 0.928 seconds behind Hamilton in his fastest lap.
Felipe Massa was fourth and fifth fastest.
Red Bull meanwhile struggled despite racing at home, with four-time champion Sebastian Vettel and Canadian Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo setting just the sixth and eighth fastest times, over 1.2 seconds behind Hamilton.
