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For the first time in 11 years, Formula One makes a welcome return to one of its most storied venues, Spielberg and the Osterreichring A1 Ring Red Bull Ring. The circuit has remained unchanged since the last race, however a new pit, paddock and main grandstand complex has been constructed.

The Austrian GP was first run as a World Championship race in 1964, on a terrible airport circuit in Zeltweg, just a few miles from the current circuit. It was Lorenzo Bandini's sole win, the track now forgotten.

The history of the circuit stretches back to 1970, with local hero Jochen Rindt's last race before his death at Monza. The original Osterreichring was one of racing's finest circuits, with fast corners, long straights, gradients there to challenge even the best. Even the introduction of a chicane in 1976 did not alter the circuit's character. Along with the fine layout, the circuit also had a nasty reputation for start line crashes, particularly in 1987, with 2 big pile ups, partly the reason behind the loss of the event from the calendar. An onboard lap from Lotus driver Satoru Nakajima really shows what a marvellous track it was.



The race made a return in 1997, albeit to a circuit in a heavily emasculated form and a new name; The A1 Ring. Gone were the fast sweeps, in came hairpins and 90 degree corners. It was the first track in Formula 1 history that was penned by the infamous Tilke GmbH, now the principal circuit design company in F1. The layout was simple, with 9 corners, 7 right and only 2 left. Lap times were around the 1:10 mark in qualifying.

The race remained on the calendar until 2003, when politics and low crowds meant its second demise.

Drinks company Red Bull then purchased the track and reopened it in 2011 under its current guise, the Red Bull Ring. They somehow convinced Bernie it was a good idea to reintroduce it and he agreed. Having taken European races off the calendar, he decided to add one back, F1 fans rejoice.



Many moments in F1 folklore have occurred here, Penske's sole win, Brambilla crashing after the flag, Lauda winning his home race, Rosberg and de Angelis duelling to the line, Fisichella's first pole in the wet, Hakkinen and Coulthard colliding on lap 1, Sato's massive accident and of course, Schumacher's "win" in 2002. Can a new moment be added to that list this weekend? We shall see.

GP3 and GP2 are also racing here, lookout for trouble in the first corner.

TV Times:

You missed one key moment from Austrian GP history...

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

You and me both Scotty. I've even been to the A1-Ring for the 1998 race. Great place, great atmosphere, great people, but overrated circuit.

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

My absolute favourite track in terms of surroundings. I wish every track had this kind of landscape instead of hazy wasteland where new Tilkedromes usually locate. Green grass, mountains, brisk air, natural ups and downs and gravel traps instead of flat tarmac area with white lines indicating race track inside a circle of stadiums.
Some call this Mini-Spa, but after Spa having been sterilized I think this track may provide more challenge than Spa recently has.

Does anyone know if FIA will prohibit using the run-off area at T1? In 2003 drivers were going wide there blatantly and gaining speed. It's a tough corner otherwise.
Expecting entertaining race, not to mention GP2 & GP3.

The question about the T1 run off has been answered by a Barcelona/Bahrain style kerb.

No rain

You've just made me think that we could use DRS much more fun than what we currently have (interesting given our Toyota discussion elsewhere. )

We should have a race where there is no DRS Zone and you can use it anywhere you're within 1 second of the car in front. It would be interesting because the car that just got overtaken could then immediately respond with DRS. Having more DRS might actually make it LESS artificial and more fun.

Like Norisring then. It produces awesome races, but would it make up for the fact that it's a joke driving-wise?

Austria, the place where your car can have a pitstop fire, but you'll win anyway

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Motorsports trend for 2024: everything is a bad taste joke now

And the place where you can get the winner's trophy, even if you got second.

And the place where people believe they'd seen someone deserve a race win when in reality they were merely holding station and waiting for "the phone call", and yet still go on about a lost win some 12 years later like it happened yesterday.

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

This has always been my take about the circuit F1 last visited, ie, CGV.

A1 Ring is far more challenging, driving-wise, than CGV, though. If the Canadian track can have all the love from F1 fans because of the not rare action packed GPs, the Austrian one have no problem being on the calendar as it produced some good battles even in the early 2000s when it was very difficult for such thing to happen in other circuits of the calendar.

And I don't even think it's layout to be a "joke". There are some 2 or 3 dull corners but the others are, or at least were, quite nice imo.

Not sure if serious.

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

Having stood down at T1 and the chicane in Canada during practice, I can assure you it's not a joke driving wise. Quite the opposite.

Anyway, one for codename_47:

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Dan Wheldon | 1978 - 2011

Useless statistic: 3 current F1 drivers have already raced on the track in F1 before: Button, Alonso and Massa

This is wrong BTW, he retired and Ickx won for Ferrari

ITT we bag on good tracks that put on great races.

Seriously never seen a bad race here, and you all know I have high standards

Even DTM put on some batshit insane races here, and you all know they have LOW standards

Even 2002 was bubbling along with Jaques charging through the field and the scary sato/Heidfeld smash before the end...well I'd say kinda ruined it a tad, wouldn't you?

1997 was decent, Hakkinen shock (AGAIN) and "for sure I 'ad the corner, and certainlyyyy my car fly up!" Alesi/Irvine airz.
1998 had Coulthard be unlucky at the start, fall down the field, overtake his way forward. Then MS fly off the road (airz!) and have to do the same (tast)
1999 had DC be a dick on the start and it was Mika's turn to have to charge back through the field.
Then DC threw it away in a close finish with Eddie (also tast)
2000 I can't really remember but pretty sure it was the year Prost made us all LOL as they hit each other (a clip that was part of the ITV intro montage for the rest of their tenure I think)
OH! And the start shunt, with MS blatently parking his already parked car over the racing line trying to cause a red flag.
Nice try Michael!
2001: Michelin graining gate. MS/JPM lolz.
2002: yeahhhh we all know.
2003: FIER! FIER! FIER! WIN! WIN! WIN!

Good tast races tbh.

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RIP Birmingham Wheels: here's some of the crash videos I recorded when it was there:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaKIE ... 5t9d5PvoHA

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/paulhadsley

@ Codename...

1997 - Yes
1998 - No
1999 - Yes
2000 - No
2001 - First part yes, the rest no
2002 - No
2003 - No

2.5 / 8 - must try harder

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

I always though A1 was pretty shitty (back in the days).

BUT ZOMG IT HAS ELEVATION!?! Glad to see it back, but hope Red Bull will invest in a better layout. Let's not forget, it's the first track Tilke really fucked up (compared to old sitiation).

Anyway, this was pretty fun. Altough DRS would make these kinda defensing impossible.

I am surprised at this Kals. I was genuinely never bored by a race here.

Especially 1998 which had 2 of the top 4 guys in the championship storming through the field, what can you not enjoy about that?

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RIP Birmingham Wheels: here's some of the crash videos I recorded when it was there:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaKIE ... 5t9d5PvoHA

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/paulhadsley