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The Austrian Grand Prix is a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-sanctioned motor racing event that has been a long-time feature in the sport. The race has been held at two different locations in southeastern Austria, originally in Zeltweg and later in neighbouring Spielberg. The Austrian Grand Prix was first held in 1964 and has since been held intermittently, returning to the Formula One calendar in 2014. The race is typically held during the mid-season rounds of the Formula One World Championship, but in 2020 it served as the season opener due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, an additional race called the Styrian Grand Prix was added to the calendar and was held twice at the Red Bull Ring, facilitating a double-header to maximise the number of Grands Prix during the pandemic-affected season. The Red Bull Ring is known for its short track length, which often leads to tight qualifying sessions. The Styrian Grand Prix is named after the region in which the circuit is located.
Niki Lauda, who won his home race in 1984, is the only Austrian to have won the Austrian Grand Prix.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of races in the past 2 years | 4 |
| Race locations | Red Bull Ring, Spielberg |
| Number of races at each location | 3 at Red Bull Ring, 1 at Zeltweg Air Base |
| Number of unique winners | 4 |
| First Grand Prix hosted | 1970 |
| Number of laps | 71 |
| Circuit length | 4.318km |
| Total race distance | 306.452km |
What You'll Learn
Niki Lauda is the only Austrian to have won his home race
The Austrian Grand Prix is a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-sanctioned motor racing event that has been a long-time feature in Formula One. The race has been held at two different locations in southeastern Austria, originally in Zeltweg and since 1969 in neighbouring Spielberg.
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The Styrian Grand Prix was added to the calendar in 2020
The Styrian Grand Prix was added to the Formula One calendar in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused the cancellation of several races, and the Styrian Grand Prix was added to the calendar to maximise the number of Grands Prix during the affected seasons.
The Styrian Grand Prix was held at the Red Bull Ring, the same location as the Austrian Grand Prix, which was also the season opener in 2020. The Red Bull Ring, located in Spielberg, is known for its scenic backdrop of the Styrian mountains. The track is short, which often leads to tight qualifying sessions. The 2020 pole time was just under 63 seconds, making it the quickest lap to complete on the current Formula One calendar.
The addition of the Styrian Grand Prix to the 2020 calendar meant that the Red Bull Ring hosted back-to-back races on consecutive weekends, a first in Formula One history. This was not the only instance of a circuit hosting two races in one season, as Silverstone also hosted two races in 2020: the British Grand Prix and the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.
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The Austrian Grand Prix was removed from the F1 calendar for safety concerns
The Austrian Grand Prix returned in 1970 and was held at the Österreichring, located in the scenic Styrian mountains. This track was popular with drivers as it was a fast, flowing track with high-speed corners. However, increasing speeds became a growing problem, and in 1987, the narrow and confined pit straight was deemed too dangerous by FIA standards, leading to the race being removed from the calendar once again.
The race returned to the F1 calendar in 1997 after the Österreichring was refurbished and renamed the A1-Ring. The layout was redesigned, losing its long, sweeping corners. The Austrian Grand Prix continued to be held at this track until 2003, after which it was removed from the calendar again.
In 2014, the Austrian Grand Prix returned once more, this time at the Red Bull Ring, the current name of the refurbished Österreichring. The race has remained on the F1 calendar since then and is typically held during the mid-season rounds of the Formula One World Championship.
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Valtteri Bottas won the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix
The race was a dramatic one, with Bottas' teammate Lewis Hamilton suffering a late-racing demotion from second to fourth place after a clash with Red Bull's Alexander Albon. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc came in second, and Lando Norris claimed the third spot, making his first podium finish in Formula One.
Bottas' win at the Austrian Grand Prix was his first of two victories in 2020, with the other coming at the Turkish Grand Prix. Bottas finished as runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2020, and has won 10 Grands Prix across 12 seasons.
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The Red Bull Ring is located in Spielberg
The Red Bull Ring is located in the scenic Styrian mountains, and the track is known for its high-speed, long corners. The first race on this track was dominated by Ferrari, whose more powerful Flat-12 engines gave them a 10 mph advantage over the competition. The Red Bull Ring is also known for its short track length, which often leads to tight qualifying sessions.
In 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Austrian Grand Prix was held as the season opener, and an additional race called the Styrian Grand Prix was added to the calendar. This was the first time in F1 history that the same circuit hosted two races on consecutive weekends.
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