Is Racing Point really Mercedes closest competitor in Austria?

The world may be a very different place compared to four months ago, but it seems some things never change: Mercedes is still the team to beat in Formula One.

Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that the reigning champions finished at the top of the timesheets after the first day of practice in Austria, but the margin of Mercedes' advantage was still alarming. Combined with Red Bull struggling to fulfill its preseason hype and Ferrari living up to its worst concerns, on the face of it the results of Friday practice made for depressing reading for everyone bar Mercedes.

So was this a true reflection of the competitive order -- with the Racing Point outpacing both Ferrari and Red Bull -- or will…