Leslie Massey
The Austrian Grand Prix is a Formula One race held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. It is one of two home races for Red Bull Racing, which captured its 100th win when Max Verstappen crossed the finish line first in Montreal. The Austrian Grand Prix is also one of the sprint races on the 2023 F1 calendar, with the first being held at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The sprint race takes place on Saturday, and the grand prix takes place on Sunday.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
| Date | 30 June - 2 July |
| Location | Red Bull Ring, Spielberg |
| Number of turns | 10 |
| Number of DRS zones | 3 |
| Number of laps in sprint race | 24 |
| Sprint race winner | Sergio Pérez |
| Grand Prix race winner | Max Verstappen |
What You'll Learn
The Austrian Grand Prix is a sprint race weekend
The sprint race weekend format means that drivers will have just one practice session before Friday's qualifying session for the Grand Prix. On Saturday, drivers will take part in the "Sprint Shootout" qualifying for the sprint race, followed by the sprint race itself. The main Grand Prix race will then take place on Sunday.
The sprint race format adds intrigue to the race weekend and gives fans an extra session with actual stakes to follow. It also reduces the number of practice sessions, which can make the weekend schedule feel tedious. The new format also means that the results of the sprint race do not shape the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix, allowing drivers to push to their limits without playing it safe.
The Red Bull Ring, which hosts the Austrian Grand Prix, is the shortest track on the F1 circuit. However, it is also one of the trickiest, with a number of elements that can catch drivers out. The track has ten turns and three long straights, each with a DRS zone. The back half of the lap is slower, giving drivers a chance to recharge their batteries after the straights.
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Qualifying for the Grand Prix takes place on Friday
The Austrian Grand Prix is a sprint race, the second of six sprint races in the 2023 F1 season. This means that qualifying for the Grand Prix takes place on Friday, with Saturday being fully dedicated to the sprint race.
The Red Bull Ring, which is the shortest track on the F1 circuit, is known for its tricky nature. Despite having lap times of around one minute, the track has several elements that make it challenging for drivers. It has ten turns and three long straights, each with a DRS zone. The back half of the lap is slower, giving drivers a chance to recharge after navigating the straights.
The qualifying session on Friday determines the starting grid for the Austrian Grand Prix. In 2023, the drivers faced challenges with track limits, and some had their times deleted due to infractions.
The qualifying session is crucial as it sets the stage for the rest of the race weekend, including the sprint race on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday.
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Saturday is dedicated to the sprint race
The Austrian Grand Prix is a highly anticipated event in the Formula 1 racing calendar. The 2023 edition of the race was particularly special as it featured a sprint race on Saturday, making it the second sprint race weekend of the season. Saturday was dedicated to the sprint race, with the day's events kicking off with the sprint shootout to qualify for the sprint race itself. This qualifying session is crucial as it determines the starting positions for the sprint race.
The sprint race, consisting of 24 laps around the Red Bull Ring, is not just a warm-up for Sunday's main event. It is a separate competition that carries significant weight in the drivers' and constructors' championship. The winner of the sprint race earns eight points, with each subsequent driver receiving one less point down to one point for the eighth-place finisher. This format adds an extra layer of excitement and strategy to the racing weekend.
The dedicated sprint race day on Saturday provides a unique opportunity for drivers and teams to showcase their skills and strategies. With only one practice session before Friday's qualifying, the sprint race adds an element of unpredictability and offers a platform for drivers to make their mark on the race weekend. It also gives fans an extra dose of racing action to enjoy.
The Austrian Grand Prix sprint race weekend is a testament to the sport's efforts to enhance the schedule and provide fans with even more thrilling racing content. By dedicating Saturday to the sprint race, the event takes on a distinct format that sets it apart from traditional Grand Prix weekends. This format also allows for a more diverse range of strategies and adds a layer of complexity to the championship battle.
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The sprint race is a separate competition from the Grand Prix
The Austrian Grand Prix is a Formula One race held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. The race has been dominated by Red Bull, with Max Verstappen securing four wins at the venue and two in 2021 alone.
The 2023 edition of the race was preceded by a sprint race, which was a separate competition from the Grand Prix. The sprint race took place on Saturday, with qualifying for the sprint, called the "Sprint Shootout", preceding the race. The Grand Prix itself was held on Sunday.
The sprint race format was introduced to add variety to the race weekend and provide fans with an extra session with stakes. In the case of the Austrian Grand Prix, the sprint was the second of six sprint races in the 2023 Formula 1 season. The winner of the sprint race received eight points, with each subsequent driver receiving one less point down to one point for the eighth-place finisher.
The sprint race and the Grand Prix are distinct competitions, with separate qualifying sessions and different formats. The Grand Prix is the main event, while the sprint race serves as an exciting addition to the race weekend, offering a unique challenge for drivers and an extra opportunity for fans to witness their favourite drivers in action.
The separation of the sprint race and the Grand Prix allows for a more dynamic and engaging race weekend, providing fans with multiple opportunities to witness the skills and strategies of the drivers and teams.
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The Red Bull Ring is the shortest track on the F1 circuit
The Austrian Grand Prix is a sprint race, and the Red Bull Ring, where the race takes place, is the shortest track on the F1 circuit. Despite its short length, with lap times of around one minute, the track has several features that make it one of the most challenging circuits on the F1 calendar.
The Red Bull Ring has ten turns and three long straights, each with a DRS zone. The back half of the lap is slower, giving drivers a chance to recharge after the straights. This layout favours cars that perform well on straights and have a high top speed, such as the Red Bull cars in the 2023 season. The track also has four high-speed corners, which can be challenging for drivers.
The short length of the track can lead to a mixed grid, as there is a risk of impeding during qualifying due to the limited space. Additionally, the track is hard on brakes, and the compromise between downforce levels can be tricky, affecting the raceability of the car and tyre wear.
The Red Bull Ring has been a successful venue for Red Bull and their driver Max Verstappen, who has won the Austrian Grand Prix four times, including twice in 2021 when the track hosted a doubleheader due to the COVID-19 altered schedule. Verstappen's five consecutive wins in the 2023 season further highlight the advantage Red Bull cars have on this track.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Austrian Grand Prix is one of the sprint races on the 2023 F1 schedule.
Under the "'Sprint Saturday' format, drivers will have just one practice session before qualifying for the Grand Prix on Friday. On Saturday, drivers will take part in the "Sprint Shootout" qualifying for the sprint race, followed by the sprint race itself. The sprint will consist of 24 laps around the Red Bull Ring.
The sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix takes place on Saturday. For the 2023 race, it started at 3:30 pm BST (4:30 pm local time).
The sprint race is shown on television on ESPN and can be live-streamed on ESPN3, ESPN+, and the ESPN app.
A sprint race is a shorter race that usually takes place on Saturday before the main Grand Prix race on Sunday. The sprint race also has a different qualifying format, with a "Sprint Shootout" taking place before the race to determine the starting grid.
