Spielberg
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Track: Red Bull Ring
Austria
The Austrian Grand Prix is one of the most well received tracks on the Formula One calendar. It's simple track design and beautiful setting, makes the Red Bull Ring such an incredible race for fans to watch.
Onboard Lap using EA SPORTS F1® 24
Photograph from New York Times
Austrian Grand Prix
The first Austrian Grand Prix took place in 1963 at the Zeltweg Airfield. The race was a Non-Championship event but, became a part of the F1 Calendar during the 1964 FIA Formula One World Championship. The 1964 race was won by Italian Lorenzo Bandini in a Ferrari. But because of how it was poorly received, F1 wouldn't race in Zeltweg Airfield from 1969 and onwards due to the bad layout and bumpy surfaces which weren't as suitable for the early Formula One cars.
1963 Austrian GP (Motorsport Images)
Austrian Grand Prix (1963) Track Layout
1963 - 1969 (wikipedia)
​Length: 3.18km /1.98mi
Laps: 105
After a disappointing first few years in Austria, it was decided that it would be best for the sport to change it's destination to host a better Austrian Grand Prix. They chose to race at the Österreichring for the 1970 FIA Formula One World Championship for better racing action. The 1970 Austrian GP was won by Jacky Ickx, driving a Ferrari, after he started from third position. The Österreichring was well recieved and would be the official setting for Formula One to racer in Austria. The Österreichring would go on to face some changes and modifications to the track layout, and would also be renamed to the "Red Bull Ring".
Austrian Grand Prix (1970) Track Layout
1970 - 1987 (racingcircuits.info)
​Length: 5,94km /3.71mi
Laps: 71
Austrian Grand Prix
The Österreichring, managed to serve a lot of great and decent racing actions for both drivers and fans to enjoy. It's beautiful setting around the Styrian Mountains, really makes it such a beautiful setting for Formula One to host a Grand Prix.
Red Bull Ring Layout​
Turns: 10
DRS Zones: 3
Length: 4.31km (2.68mi)
Fastest Lap: Carlos Sainz
1:05.619
During the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Austrian GP would make a remarkable return to the F1 calendar after being absent for nearly 11 years. The 2014 Austrian GP would also be memorable for Nico Rosberg's victory for Mercedes that year.
2014 Austrian GP (Motorsport Images)
During the 2016 Austrian GP, Young superstar Max Verstappen, would claim his first victory at the Red Bull Ring. This was a special moment for both Verstappen and Red Bull as, Verstappen managed to grab a home victory for the team.
2016 Austrian GP (Motorsport.com)
But as Formula One reached it's 70th anniversary, nearly half of the tracks in the calendar were cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, the Austrian Grand Prix wasn't cancelled, and eventually would become the first race of the 2020 season.
2020 Austrian GP (Formula1)
The Austrian Grand Prix would become a "Double Header" during the 2020 season, hosting two races twice, The Austrian GP, and the Styrian GP. The Styrian GP isn't anything new as it's just another name for a second attempt of hosting another Austrian GP in the 2020 season. During the 2020 Austrian GP, the race was won by Valtteri Bottas ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and McLaren's Lando Norris. And for the Styrian GP, Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton, would be able to take victory at the Red Bull Ring after starting from pole position.
2024 Austrian GP (The Guardian)
In the 2024 Austrian GP, this race in particular set the stage of the rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris for the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship. Right at the beginning of the Grand Prix, the race was nearly Dominated by Verstappen with a massive lead in the Grand Prix. But, a slow pit stop had dearly cost him in the race which closed the gap between Noris and Verstappen by nearly tenths of a second. Norris made a few attempts to overtake his rival, but Verstappen stayed in the lead. However in lap 64, both drivers surprisingly collided resulting punctures for both cars. Because of this, both drivers had to pit for new sets of Tyres, which caused Mercedes's George Russell to take the lead and eventually, would go on to win the Austrian GP.
The Red Bull Ring managed to serve a lot of great racing action to the sport and has been such an important part of the Formula One Family. Fans are always eager to see a lot more action for years to come at the Red Bull Ring.
WINNERS
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1964: Lorenzo Bandini
1970: Jacky Ickx
1971: Jo Siffert
1972: Emerson Fittipaldi
1973: Ronnie Peterson
1974: Carlos Reutemann
1975: Vittorio Brambilla
1976: John Watson
1977: Alan Jones
1978: Ronnie Peterson
1979: Alan Jones
1980: Jean-Pierre Jabouille
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1981: Jacques Laffite
1982: Elio de Angelis
1983: Alain Prost
1984: Niki Lauda
1985: Alain Prost
1986: Alain Prost
1987: Nigel Mansell
1997: Jacques Villeneuve
1998: Mika Hakkinen
1999: Eddie Irvine
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2000: Mika Hakkinen
2001: David Coulthard
2002: Michael Schumacher
2003: Michael Schumacher
2014: Nico Rosberg
2015: Nico Rosberg
2016: Lewis Hamilton
2017: Valtteri Bottas
2018: Max Verstappen
2019: Max Verstappen
2020: Valtteri Bottas
2021: Max Verstappen
2022: Charles Leclerc
2023: Max Verstappen
2024: George Russell