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The Austrian Grand Prix is a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-sanctioned motor racing event held in Spielberg, Styria, in southeastern Austria. The event was first held in 1964 and has since been held at two different locations, originally in Zeltweg and then in neighbouring Spielberg, with the two venues being within 4 km of each other. The race track, which has undergone several name changes, is currently known as the Red Bull Ring due to its ownership by the Austrian drinks company of the same name.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Spielberg, Styria, Austria |
| Track Name | Red Bull Ring |
| Previous Track Names | Österreichring, A1-Ring |
| Track Length | 4.318 km |
| Number of Laps | 71 |
| Total Distance | 306 km |
| Lap Record | 1:05.619 (Valtteri Bottas, 2017) |
| Most Wins | Max Verstappen (4) |
| First Championship Race | 1964 |
| Previous Locations | Zeltweg Air Base |
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The Zeltweg Air Base
The idea for the track came from the success of the Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom, which was also built on the site of an airfield. However, the engineers at Zeltweg failed to account for the abrasive nature of the surface. As a result, the track was deemed too dangerous, and the Austrian Grand Prix was moved to a new permanent track, the Österreichring, located nearby in Spielberg.
The first race at the Zeltweg Air Base was a non-championship event held in 1963 and was won by Australian driver Jack Brabham. The following year, in 1964, the race became a championship event, with Italian driver Lorenzo Bandini winning his only Formula One championship race in a Ferrari. Despite the success of the race, the poor condition of the track led to the decision to move the Austrian Grand Prix to a new location.
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The Österreichring
However, the Österreichring was also a dangerous circuit. During the 1975 Grand Prix warm-up, American Mark Donohue crashed due to a puncture in the first corner and sadly died a few days later in the hospital. To improve safety, the first corner was slightly modified for the 1976 Grand Prix, and a year later, it was changed to a chicane, creating a new overtaking opportunity.
In 1996, the circuit was renamed the A1-Ring and underwent major layout changes, including the demolition of parts of the track, to prepare for Formula One. It hosted the Austrian Grand Prix again from 1997 to 2003 but was then removed from the Formula One calendar and lay dormant for several years.
In 2011, the circuit was acquired by Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and reopened as the Red Bull Ring. It has since hosted rounds of the DTM and Formula 2 championships and returned to the Formula One calendar in 2014.
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The A1-Ring
The Österreichring was built in 1969 and hosted the Austrian Grand Prix from 1970 to 1987. The track was deemed unsafe in the mid-1990s due to increasing speeds and concerns over safety. As a result, it was entirely rebuilt and renamed the A1-Ring, opening in 1996. The track hosted the Austrian Grand Prix again from 1997 to 2003.
In 2004, the grandstands and pit buildings of the A1-Ring were demolished, and the circuit was sold to Dietrich Mateschitz, the owner of Red Bull. The track was renamed the Red Bull Ring and reopened in 2011, hosting the Austrian Grand Prix again from 2014 onwards.
The Red Bull Ring is known for its short lap, with three straights separated by a pair of uphill right-handers. The track is set in a natural bowl, providing one of Formula 1's best views from the 'Nord' grandstand. The Red Bull Ring continues to host the Austrian Grand Prix, with the most recent race taking place in 2024.
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The Red Bull Ring
After Formula One outgrew the circuit, parts of it, including the pits and main grandstand, were demolished, and construction work began to extend the layout. However, the work was stopped, and the circuit remained unusable for several years. In 2004, Dietrich Mateschitz, owner of Red Bull, purchased the circuit and rebuilt it. Renamed the Red Bull Ring, the track was reopened on 15 May 2011 and subsequently hosted a round of the 2011 DTM season and a round of the 2011 F2 championship. Formula One returned to the circuit in the 2014 season, and MotoGP returned in 2016.
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Spielberg
The Austrian Grand Prix has been held in the town of Spielberg since 1969. The race track, originally called the Österreichring, is located in the Styrian mountains and was built in 1969. It was later renamed the A1-Ring and then the Red Bull Ring, after it was purchased and rebuilt by Dietrich Mateschitz, the owner of Red Bull, in 2004. The track has a length of 4.326 km and is known for its three long straights and twisty infield section. It is one of the shorter tracks on the Formula One calendar, which creates a tight lap and increases the importance of qualifying sessions and overtaking opportunities.
The Red Bull Ring is accessible by train and bus, with the closest train station being in Zeltweg, about 5km away. There are also coaches that travel to the circuit from various destinations across Austria, including Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, and Vienna. The circuit provides ample parking, which is free of charge and located about a 15-minute walk from the track.
The Austrian Grand Prix was first held at the Zeltweg Air Base from 1964 to 1969, before moving to its permanent location in Spielberg. The race was held at the Österreichring from 1970 to 1987, and then from 1997 to 2003 after the track was rebuilt and renamed the A1-Ring. After a ten-year absence, the Austrian Grand Prix returned to the calendar in 2014, with the track now known as the Red Bull Ring. The race has been held annually since then, with the exception of 2020 when two races were held at the circuit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian Grand Prix is held in Spielberg, Styria, Austria.
The Austrian Grand Prix has been held at two different locations in southeastern Austria. It was originally held in Zeltweg, about 70 km (43 mi) west of Graz. Since 1969, the Grand Prix has taken place in neighbouring Spielberg.
The race track where the Austrian Grand Prix is held is called the Red Bull Ring. It was previously known as the Österreichring and the A1-Ring.
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