Lexi Webster
The Austrian Grand Prix is a motor racing event sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. It has been held at two locations in southeastern Austria: Zeltweg Air Base and the Österreichring, currently known as the Red Bull Ring. The race has a history of dramatic crashes, including Niki Lauda's appalling crash in 1976, Andrea de Cesaris in 1985, and American Mark Donohue's fatal accident in 1975. The 2022 race was dominated by a shunt involving Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Spielberg, Austria |
| Track | Red Bull Ring |
| Track Length | 4.318 km |
| Number of Laps | 71 |
| Date | June 29, 2025 |
| Previous Winners | Max Verstappen, John Watson, Alan Jones, Vittorio Brambilla, Jo Siffert, Jackie Stewart, Lorenzo Bandini, Jack Brabham |
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What You'll Learn
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc rivalry
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc's rivalry has been a prominent feature of recent Formula 1 seasons. The two drivers have been competitors since their karting days, and their rivalry continued when they progressed to Formula 1, with Verstappen driving for Red Bull and Leclerc for Scuderia Ferrari.
In an interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF, Leclerc acknowledged that their relationship had evolved since their karting days, stating, "We used to hate each other (laughs). We have competed against each other several times on the track and had several incidents. But today it's different. We are in a very different place in our careers. We both realized our dream which was to become a Formula 1 driver."
The rivalry between the two drivers has been a prominent feature of recent Formula 1 seasons, with Leclerc being Verstappen's nearest challenger in 2021 and 2022. During these seasons, the pair engaged in several wheel-to-wheel contests, demonstrating their intense competition. Despite this, both drivers have exhibited great sportsmanship, and Leclerc noted that their mutual respect has grown as they have matured and progressed in their careers.
Verstappen himself has expressed a preference for his rivalry with Leclerc over his previous competition with Lewis Hamilton, citing their long-standing acquaintance and mutual respect as factors contributing to a more enjoyable on-track battle. The 2022 Austrian Grand Prix practice session exemplified this rivalry, with Verstappen heading Leclerc in the sole practice session before qualifying. This session was marked by two stoppages for red flags, causing a premium on track time prior to qualifying. Despite the challenges, Verstappen maintained his lead throughout, showcasing his determination to outperform his rival.
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Lando Norris's McLaren issues
The Austrian Grand Prix saw Lando Norris experience a number of issues with his McLaren. Before the race, his team had opted to change several power unit components, and during the sole practice session, Norris stopped his MCL36 on the track, reporting "smoke from under my seat". This caused the first of two red flags to be shown during the session.
Norris's problem curtailed his running early and left him with the slowest time. His teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, also experienced DRS issues and could only manage 17th fastest. McLaren experimented with running his car with and without a rear wing Gurney flap towards the end of the session.
The race itself was dominated by a shunt between Max Verstappen and Norris, which may have been a result of Norris's earlier issues. This incident would have provided Norris with a first-hand experience of Verstappen's ruthless nature in battles, potentially changing their relationship going forward.
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Valtteri Bottas' Alfa Romeo grid drop
Valtteri Bottas joined Alfa Romeo in 2022 on a multi-year deal. However, his time with the team has been marred by reliability issues. In 2022, Bottas commented on the team's troubling reliability issues, which had been plaguing grand prix weekends.
Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix in 2022, Alfa Romeo decided to overhaul Bottas's power unit, fitting a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K, control electronics, and exhaust system. This meant that Bottas had to start the race from the back of the grid, as these changes took him over the permitted allocation for the 2022 season.
The 2022 Austrian Grand Prix was not the only race where Bottas suffered from reliability issues. The previous week, at the 2022 British Grand Prix, he suffered a DNF due to gearbox failure. Bottas's car also broke down in qualifying at the same Grand Prix, leading to his disqualification from the session due to an insufficient fuel sample.
Bottas's time at Alfa Romeo has been blighted by reliability issues, with the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix being a notable example, where the team's decision to change multiple power unit components resulted in a grid drop for the driver.
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History of the Austrian Grand Prix
The Austrian Grand Prix has a long history, dating back to 1963 when an F1 non-championship race was held at the Zeltweg Airfield. The first official F1 Championship race in Austria took place in 1964, with drivers completing 105 laps to finish. The race has been hosted on four different tracks over the years but has always been located in the picturesque Styrian mountains, offering stunning views of the surrounding Mur Valley countryside.
The old Österreichring track, known for its fast corners and elevation changes, hosted the Austrian Grand Prix from 1970 until 1987. The 1976 race was notable for being the last F1 race completed by a female driver, Lella Lombardi. The 1984 race saw Austrian legend Niki Lauda battle it out with reigning champion Nelson Piquet for the World Title. Lauda emerged victorious, winning the Championship by just half a point.
However, the 1987 race was farcical, with one driver hitting a deer and the race having to be restarted three times. This marked the end of the old Österreichring track, and Austria wouldn't host another Grand Prix for 10 years. The circuit was renamed the A1 Ring, and a new track was designed by Hermann Tilke. The A1 Ring hosted a Grand Prix every year until 2003 when Formula One pulled out due to a disagreement with the Austrian Government's support of a ban on tobacco products.
In 2004, the circuit was bought by Dietrich Mateschitz, owner of Red Bull, who began reconstruction on the track, now known as the Red Bull Ring. The new track opened in 2010 and hosted the Austrian Grand Prix again in 2014. The Red Bull Ring is located 677 meters above sea level and combines high-speed bends with long straights, providing plenty of overtaking opportunities. The short track length also leads to tight qualifying sessions, with pole positions often decided by less than a tenth of a second.
In recent years, the Austrian Grand Prix has continued to be a highlight of the Formula 1 season. In 2019, Max Verstappen and Red Bull claimed their second straight win at the circuit. In 2020, the Red Bull Ring was used for the Styrian Grand Prix due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Mercedes scoring a victory with Lewis Hamilton leading the race. The Austrian Grand Prix took place the following week, with Verstappen claiming another win. The 2022 race saw Verstappen head into qualifying after dominating the practice session, ultimately taking the top spot on the podium.
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Red Bull Ring in Spielberg
The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, has been the venue for the Austrian Grand Prix since 1969. The track is 4.318 kilometres long and the race typically consists of 71 laps.
The race was first held at the nearby Zeltweg Air Base, about 70 km west of Graz, for its first non-championship running in 1963. The race was won by Australian Jack Brabham. The following year, the Austrian Grand Prix was held as a championship event for the first time, and Italian Lorenzo Bandini won his only Formula One championship race.
The track was deemed too dangerous, with its narrow and bumpy design, and spectators also complained of poor viewing areas. As a result, the FIA removed the race from the F1 calendar until a suitable track was built.
In 1969, a permanent track, originally called the Österreichring, was built in neighbouring Spielberg, and it has been the home of the Austrian Grand Prix ever since, except for the years the race was not held in Austria. The track was later renamed the A-1 Ring and, due to its ownership by the Austrian drinks company, it is now known as the Red Bull Ring.
The Austrian Grand Prix has a history of exciting races and has been the site of several notable incidents and crashes. For example, in 1975, the event was marred by the fatal accident of American Mark Donohue. In 1985, there was a fearsome crash at the Panorama Curve when Andrea de Cesaris rolled his Ligier, leading to his dismissal from the team.
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