Red Bull Ring

The Red Bull Ring, located in Spielberg, Austria, is one of the most picturesque and exciting circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. Originally built in 1969 as the Österreichring, the circuit has undergone multiple transformations over the years. After being rebranded as the A1-Ring, it was revived by Red Bull in 2008 and became the Red Bull Ring we know today. Since its return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2014, the Austrian Grand Prix has become a fan favorite, offering thrilling races and spectacular views of the surrounding Styrian mountains.

The Red Bull Ring is renowned for its fast straights, challenging corners, and compact layout. With a history that spans from the Österreichring era through its A1-Ring transformation, and now as the home of the Red Bull Ring, it has seen many memorable moments in motorsport history.

The original version of the track, the Österreichring, was a 5.9 km circuit that hosted the Austrian Grand Prix from 1970 to 1987. In its early years, the circuit witnessed some of F1’s greats, such as Jacky Ickx, who won the first official race in 1970, and Emerson Fittipaldi, who triumphed in 1972. However, the track was abandoned after the 1987 season due to safety concerns, and Formula 1 left Austria for a period.

In the late 1990s, the circuit underwent a major redesign by Hermann Tilke, becoming the A1-Ring. This new version was shorter and more suitable for modern Formula 1 cars. The A1-Ring hosted races from 1997 to 2003, and during this period, Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher dominated, each winning twice. However, due to a lack of modern facilities, the race was eventually dropped from the calendar after 2003.

In 2005, Red Bull took over the circuit and began a significant renovation project. The track was reopened in 2009, and after two years, it returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2014 as the Red Bull Ring. The track’s new layout, safety improvements, and the addition of modern amenities have made it one of the most popular venues on the F1 circuit.

The Red Bull Ring is known for its short and fast layout, with 9 corners and a total length of 4.318 km. It combines long straights with sharp corners, which provides excellent opportunities for overtaking, especially on the main straight. The circuit is set against the backdrop of the stunning Styrian Alps, offering breathtaking views for fans and drivers alike.

Key features of the Red Bull Ring include long straights and hard braking zones. The most crucial corners are Turn 1, Remus, after which the longest straight of the racetrack takes the drivers uphill towards the tough hairpin that is the Castrol Edge. The corner exit of this Turn 3 hairpin is crucial as once more a straight follows, descending into the downhill braking zone of Turn 4. The third sector is a combination of fast and flowing corners, asking the maximum of an F1 car’s downforce.

The Red Bull Ring holds a special place for Max Verstappen. As a member of the Red Bull Racing team, Verstappen has enjoyed significant success at his team’s home circuit. The Dutchman has won the event four times in his career, making him the most successful driver around the circuit.

The Austrian Grand Prix has seen many incredible moments, both tragic and exhilarating, over the years. For starters, in 1970, during the inaugural race at the Österreichring, Jacky Ickx won for Ferrari. The last race around this version of the Austrian Grand Prix circuit saw Mansell take victory for Williams in 1987. In 1999 the race had a climactic end as McLaren teammates Coulthard and Häkkinen came together, which almost allowed Ferrari’s Irvine to win the race. After an 11-year absence, F1 returned to Austria at the track we know so well by now, this event was not won by Red Bull until Verstappen did so in 2018. Amidst the Dutchman’s dominance, 2022 saw Leclerc pull through for the win in a dramatic race where the battle between the Monegasque and Red Bull driver remained incredibly close, adding another memorable chapter to the Red Bull Ring’s history.

Hamilton has a tough relationship with the Red Bull Ring, though the Brit has six podium finishes in thirteen events around the track, he only won the race twice. During his time at Mercedes he often finished behind teammates Nico Rosberg and later Valtteri Bottas, who both excelled around this venue. In other years, it would be Max Verstappen taking victory, four times by now, at his team’s home race.