The ninth round of the 2016 Formula 1 season takes place at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.
Following a short break, F1 returns to action in Austria for the first of four races in the space of just five weeks.
The Austrian Grand Prix returned to the F1 calendar in 2014 after an 11-year absence, with Nico Rosberg taking victory for Mercedes. It was the first race at the revamped Red Bull Ring since 2003.
Overall, the event was a big success, with packed crowds, a real festival atmosphere and good racing at the track – which is situated in a truly beautiful location, with panoramic mountain views. Rosberg backed the result up with a second win at the track last year.
This year’s F1 race will be the 29th to take place in Austria. The country debuted on the calendar in 1964 at Zeltweg, before switching to the incredibly quick Österreichring from 1970 to 1987. After a long stint off the schedule, the race then returned in 1997 on the Hermann Tilke-designed A1-Ring layout, hosting the event for seven more years.
However, it was not retained for the 2004 season and the track fell into disrepair, failing to host any motorsport races for several years. Red Bull was the track’s saviour after it was purchased by Dietrich Mateschitz. The circuit was renovated, at the cost of around €70 million and was reopened in 2011.
The current circuit may not be as fast or mad as the previous layout, but it is certainly challenging. The first half features long straights and slow corners, while the second part of the track is more technical with medium-speed corners and short bursts of speed.
A lap of the 2.688-mile circuit starts on the long pit straight, which climbs uphill to the first corner. The sharp right-hander features plenty of run-off area on the exit and is a strong overtaking opportunity, as the heavy braking zone follows the first DRS zone.
Getting a good exit is crucial for the long run to the second corner, which features an even steeper climb uphill. In fact, the undulating nature of the track means the difference between the lowest point and the highest (Turn 2) is 60 metres. It is arguably the best overtaking place on the relatively short track and features the trickiest braking zone.
The second sector kicks off just prior to the right-hand hairpin, which is the slowest of the nine corners, and is then followed by another long straight. This is where the second DRS zone will be positioned, making it another good opportunity to move up the order. The track heads downhill on the run to the third corner.
Turn 4 is a sweeping right-hander and is followed by the tricky left of Turn 5. The run to the sixth corner is where the third sector begins. Turn 6 is a medium-speed left-hander that leas on to the fast right-hand kink of Turn 7.
A short straight follows, with the track briefly heading uphill before dipping back down once again for the fastest corner on the circuit - Turn 8. A short straight follows before the final turn, which is a medium-speed right-hander. The pitlane entry cuts inside the last corner, with cars re-joining to the right at the exit of the first turn.
The track is the third shortest on the current F1 calendar, behind Interlagos and Monaco. This means the race lasts 71 laps. Straight-line speed is crucial at the Red Bull Ring, while the brakes and engines are put to the test.
With power being a crucial factor in Austria, Mercedes looks set to be the team to beat once again, with Ferrari next up. Red Bull could find itself less competitive than recent races, with the low downforce requirements possibly suiting Williams.
Alain Prost has won the Austrian Grand Prix three times, more than any other driver in the sport’s history. Ronnie Peterson, Alan Jones, Mika Hakkinen, Michael Schumacher and Rosberg have all taken victory at the Red Bull Ring twice. McLaren is the most successful constructor with six wins in Austria.
Austrian Grand Prix Fact File
Location: Spielberg, Austria
Track length: 2.688 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 9
Laps: 71
First race: 1964 (Red Bull Ring 1970)
Lap record: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2003, 1:08.337
Tyre compounds: Soft, medium and hard
2015 winner: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2015 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m08.455
2015 fastest lap: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1m11.235
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (highlights on Channel 4)
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
The Austrian Grand Prix returned to the F1 calendar in 2014 after an 11-year absence, with Nico Rosberg taking victory for Mercedes. It was the first race at the revamped Red Bull Ring since 2003.
Overall, the event was a big success, with packed crowds, a real festival atmosphere and good racing at the track – which is situated in a truly beautiful location, with panoramic mountain views. Rosberg backed the result up with a second win at the track last year.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
This year’s F1 race will be the 29th to take place in Austria. The country debuted on the calendar in 1964 at Zeltweg, before switching to the incredibly quick Österreichring from 1970 to 1987. After a long stint off the schedule, the race then returned in 1997 on the Hermann Tilke-designed A1-Ring layout, hosting the event for seven more years.
However, it was not retained for the 2004 season and the track fell into disrepair, failing to host any motorsport races for several years. Red Bull was the track’s saviour after it was purchased by Dietrich Mateschitz. The circuit was renovated, at the cost of around €70 million and was reopened in 2011.
The current circuit may not be as fast or mad as the previous layout, but it is certainly challenging. The first half features long straights and slow corners, while the second part of the track is more technical with medium-speed corners and short bursts of speed.
A lap of the 2.688-mile circuit starts on the long pit straight, which climbs uphill to the first corner. The sharp right-hander features plenty of run-off area on the exit and is a strong overtaking opportunity, as the heavy braking zone follows the first DRS zone.
Getting a good exit is crucial for the long run to the second corner, which features an even steeper climb uphill. In fact, the undulating nature of the track means the difference between the lowest point and the highest (Turn 2) is 60 metres. It is arguably the best overtaking place on the relatively short track and features the trickiest braking zone.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
The second sector kicks off just prior to the right-hand hairpin, which is the slowest of the nine corners, and is then followed by another long straight. This is where the second DRS zone will be positioned, making it another good opportunity to move up the order. The track heads downhill on the run to the third corner.
Turn 4 is a sweeping right-hander and is followed by the tricky left of Turn 5. The run to the sixth corner is where the third sector begins. Turn 6 is a medium-speed left-hander that leas on to the fast right-hand kink of Turn 7.
A short straight follows, with the track briefly heading uphill before dipping back down once again for the fastest corner on the circuit - Turn 8. A short straight follows before the final turn, which is a medium-speed right-hander. The pitlane entry cuts inside the last corner, with cars re-joining to the right at the exit of the first turn.
The track is the third shortest on the current F1 calendar, behind Interlagos and Monaco. This means the race lasts 71 laps. Straight-line speed is crucial at the Red Bull Ring, while the brakes and engines are put to the test.
With power being a crucial factor in Austria, Mercedes looks set to be the team to beat once again, with Ferrari next up. Red Bull could find itself less competitive than recent races, with the low downforce requirements possibly suiting Williams.
Alain Prost has won the Austrian Grand Prix three times, more than any other driver in the sport’s history. Ronnie Peterson, Alan Jones, Mika Hakkinen, Michael Schumacher and Rosberg have all taken victory at the Red Bull Ring twice. McLaren is the most successful constructor with six wins in Austria.
 |
Austrian Grand Prix Fact File
Location: Spielberg, Austria
Track length: 2.688 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 9
Laps: 71
First race: 1964 (Red Bull Ring 1970)
Lap record: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2003, 1:08.337
Tyre compounds: Soft, medium and hard
2015 winner: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2015 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m08.455
2015 fastest lap: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1m11.235
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (highlights on Channel 4)
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