Red Bull Ring is a 4.318 km (2.683 miles) circuit set in the Styrian mountains of Austria, with just 10 corners across a 71-lap race distance of 306.452 km. Originally built as the Osterreichring in 1969, the track was rebuilt as the A1-Ring in 1996 and completely renovated by Red Bull, reopening in 2011. Carlos Sainz holds the lap record at 1:05.619, set in 2020.
The layout is short and fast, with steep elevation changes and high-speed straights. The run from Turn 1 to the uphill Turn 3 is a key overtaking zone, with cars cresting a hill before plunging downhill into a tight right-hander at Turn 4. Two DRS zones, on the straights before Turn 3 and Turn 4, create consistent passing opportunities. Turn 9 and Turn 10, the final right-handers, are perennial talking points for track limits enforcement, with lap times regularly deleted for exceeding the white lines.
Austria has produced dramatic racing throughout its F1 history. On 5 July 2020, Valtteri Bottas won the season-opening race in a restart-packed event during the pandemic-delayed calendar. On 4 July 2021, Max Verstappen led every lap in a dominant display in front of his orange-clad Dutch fans. The 2019 race on 30 June saw Verstappen execute a bold last-lap overtake on Charles Leclerc. The short lap and frequent safety car periods regularly produce chaotic, multi-incident races.
The timezone is Europe/Vienna at CEST (UTC+2). A 14:00 local start is 12:00 GMT and 08:00 EDT. The European summer afternoon slot gives fans across the continent an ideal viewing window, while morning starts suit North American audiences well. Asian viewers can watch in the late evening. Check Austria time and Vienna time for conversions.
Late June in Spielberg brings warm temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius but also the threat of Alpine thunderstorms that can arrive rapidly. The circuit sits in a natural amphitheatre surrounded by forested hills, with spectators spread across grassy slopes that offer views of most of the track. The Dutch fans, travelling in force to support Max Verstappen, have turned the Austrian Grand Prix into a sea of orange. The atmosphere is part football match, part mountain festival.
See the full race schedule and session times at the Austrian Grand Prix page.