Tricky start for Ricciardo and Verstappen in Austria

Max Verstappen damaged his front wing over the high curbs before breaking the suspension later in the session during the first 90-minute practice on his way to eighth place.

Birthday boy Daniel Ricciardo, who turns 27 today, was fifth fastest behind the Mercedes and Ferraris

The second session was interrupted by a torrential downpour, leaving the paddock to wait for the track to dry.

But after half an hour delay, the cars emerged again to get some wet-weather data, with forecasts predicting the potential for a wet race come Sunday.

Despite a small spin from Verstappen, the Dutchman avoided further need for repairs to his RB12 as he improved to a 1:08.761 and seventh in the second session.

Ricciardo remained in fifth, but couldn’t improve on his FP1 time of 1:08.528, setting 1:08.649 in FP2.