Lap Count Secrets: Austrian Grand Prix Edition

The Austrian Grand Prix is a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-sanctioned motor racing event that has been held on and off since 1964. The race returned to the Formula One calendar in 2014 and has been held annually since then. The 2020 Austrian Grand Prix was the opening round of the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship.

The Austrian Grand Prix is a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile sanctioned motor racing event

The Austrian Grand Prix is a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) sanctioned motor racing event. It was first held in 1964, and then from 1970 to 1987, and 1997 to 2003. It returned to the Formula One calendar in 2014, where it has remained since. The race has been held at the Österreichring, currently known as the Red Bull Ring, due to its ownership by the Austrian drinks company of the same name.

The Austrian Grand Prix is typically held during the mid-season rounds of the Formula One World Championship. However, in 2020, it was held as the season opener due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns disrupting the season. The 2020 Austrian Grand Prix was the opening round of the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Styria, Austria, on 5 July 2020.

The original Österreichring circuit measured just under 6km and was comprised of a series of high-speed corners and elevation changes with little in the way of run-off areas. American driver Mark Donohue lost his life following an accident in 1975, prompting the addition of a chicane to slow speeds on the fastest section of the circuit. Nevertheless, the Österreichring remained frighteningly fast; in 1987, Nelson Piquet’s pole lap averaged a blistering 159.457 mph (255.756 km/h).

The race has been held at the Österreichring since 1970

The Austrian Grand Prix has been held at the Österreichring, currently known as the Red Bull Ring, since 1970. The race was first held at the Zeltweg Air Base in 1964, but this was a non-Championship running. The Red Bull Ring is named after its owners, the Austrian drinks company. The original Österreichring circuit was just under 6km long and was comprised of a series of high-speed corners and elevation changes, with little in the way of run-off areas. American driver Mark Donohue lost his life following an accident in 1975, prompting the addition of a chicane to slow speeds on the fastest section of the circuit. Nevertheless, the Österreichring remained frighteningly fast; in 1987, Nelson Piquet’s pole lap averaged a blistering 159.457 mph (255.756 km/h).

The circuit is just under 6km long

The Austrian Grand Prix is a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile sanctioned motor racing event. It was first held in 1964, and has been held annually since 1997, except for 2020 when it was the season opener due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The circuit is just under 6km long and is comprised of a series of high-speed corners and elevation changes with little in the way of run-off areas. The original Österreichring circuit, which measured just under 6km, was the site of a fatal accident in 1975 involving American driver Mark Donohue. This prompted the addition of a chicane to slow speeds on the fastest section of the circuit. Nevertheless, the Österreichring remained very fast; in 1987, Nelson Piquet’s pole lap averaged 159.457 mph (255.756 km/h). The Austrian Grand Prix is typically held during the mid-season rounds of the Formula One World Championship.

The Austrian Grand Prix was held as the season opener in 2020

The Red Bull Ring, formerly known as the Österreichring, is a notoriously fast circuit, with Nelson Piquet's pole lap in 1987 averaging 159.457 mph (255.756 km/h). The 2020 race saw a safety car come out 26 laps into the race, with most drivers opting for hard tyres to finish the race.

The 2020 race was the 70th Austrian Grand Prix

The 2020 Austrian Grand Prix was the 70th Austrian Grand Prix. It was held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Styria, Austria, on 5 July 2020. The race was the opening round of the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship. It was the first time since 1966 that the season-opening race had been held in Europe.

The 2020 Austrian Grand Prix was originally scheduled to be the second race of the season, following the Australian Grand Prix. However, the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Austrian Grand Prix became the season opener. The pandemic caused a succession of cancellations and delays, with almost all of the planned races for the 2020 season either cancelled or postponed indefinitely between late March and late May.

The Red Bull Ring, formerly known as the Österreichring, is a fast circuit with a series of high-speed corners and elevation changes. The original circuit, which measured just under 6km, had little in the way of run-off areas. In 1975, American driver Mark Donohue lost his life following an accident, prompting the addition of a chicane to slow speeds on the fastest section of the circuit. Nevertheless, the circuit remained very fast; in 1987, Nelson Piquet's pole lap averaged 159.457 mph (255.756 km/h).

The 2020 Austrian Grand Prix saw Valtteri Bottas sweep to pole position, edging out Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.012s in Q3. During the race, Max Verstappen was out within a dozen laps, removing a key strategic variable. When the first Safety Car came out 26 laps into the race, most drivers opted for hard tyres to run to the end.

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