Originally the Österreichring, the Austrian track held Formula One races during the 1970s and 80s before being dropped in 1987. Revamped and renamed the A1-Ring, the circuit was back on the F1 calendar from 1997 to 2003, again dropping off the agenda. Taken over by Red Bull, the track was spruced up, although kept the same layout, and returned to the Formula One calendar in 2014.

F1 history

The Austrian Grand Prix made its comeback to the Formula One calendar, after a ten year absence. Won by Michael Schumacher in 2003, the race dropped off the schedule and the track, formerly known as the Österreichring, then known as the A1-Ring, was bought by Red Bull.

In July 2013, the speculation and rumours began that the race would be making a comeback, and it took up its position as the eighth round of the 2014 season. The Red Bull Ring, as it is now known, follows the same track layout as its predecessor, but there has been extensive development at the circuit to improve the facilities.

The grandstands and pit area was reworked in 2004, meaning the track couldn’t return to the F1 calendar that year and when Red Bull took over, boss Dietrich Mateschitz didn’t seem particularly interested in revamping the track. After a couple of years, however, renovations did take place, and motorsport began to return to the area.

The Red Bull Ring hosted a round of the DTM and F2 championships in 2011, whilst there have also been historic races held at the track. The lap is a simple layout, ten quick turns across just over 4 kilometres. Starting on the home straight, a ninety degree right hander leads to another long, if slightly leaning, straight, which culminates in a harsh hairpin.

The second sector follows, introducing more corners, back and forth, winding around an elongated u-bend to return to a short straight and the third sector. That takes us ninety degrees but sweeping to the right, and then another ninety degrees to the right, but much tighter, which then slides back on to the home straight and the run down to the finish line.

Learn more about Austria with the Pocket F1 Handbook.