Spielberg (Austria), June 28, 2024 – The Formula 1 is preparing for the second consecutive appointment in Europe. The Red Bull Ring will be the setting for the Circus weekend Spielberg, in Austria. Home of the reigning world champions of Red Bullthe Austrian track will host the Sprint Race format in a weekend that promises to be full of emotions and, probably, a big fight in the podium area. Let’s see together the characteristics of this track and the complete program of the weekend.
The Red Bull Ring circuit
The track of the Red Bull Ring has known several names before its current one. Initially Osterreichring, later A1 Ring in Zeltweg, the current Red Bull Ring is located in the territory of the Stiriain Austria, and has become one of the most anticipated stages of the Formula 1 calendar in recent years. The track is very short, with its 4-318 meters of length, which forces the single-seaters to perform well 71 rounds to reach the total distance of 306 kilometers planned for a Big prize. The Red Bull Ring has obviously been updated and modified over the years and has very little of what was first seen in 1964, when it was converted from a military airfield. The curve there are only ten, seven on the right and three on the left, and they do not present any particular technicalities compared to other tracks present in the Circus World Championship. The first sector begins from the finish straight, sees a first right-hand bend of around ninety degrees which takes the riders onto a very long uphill straight, which tends to turn left into what is considered turn 2. Turn 3 is a sharp bend and It is probably the most complex, as it has a rather narrow corner and its exit goes downhill towards another straight. In the next bend to the right it branches off sharply downhill and is the access to the mixed sector of the track. Leaving this section you arrive at the last two curves, which you have to go through high speed and high gearsbefore crossing the finish line straight again. Especially in this last sector i track limits have created several difficulties for the drivers and the race management. Last year, we were forced to wait for hours, after the checkered flag, to understand the final classification of the race net of the various penalties assigned to the drivers. To overcome this serious unforeseen event, from this year we have chosen to place a strip of gravel outside the kerbs, so as to place a “natural” limit on the track and more easily recognizable by the drivers, who will no longer have the only white line on the ground as a reference for exiting the curves. Here in Austria, it will be necessary to bring a very balanced setup, to best optimize the top speed on the long straights, the cornering in the fast corners and the traction in the slower ones.
Times and where to watch it on TV
As previously mentioned, the weekend of Austrian Grand Prix will be characterized by the format of the Sprint Race. After the first free practice session, therefore, we will immediately move on to action with the qualifying for the Sprint Race, which will then be held on Saturday morning. The entire program will be broadcast live on Sky Sport channels, while the Grand Prix will be deferred on free-to-air TV8. Friday 28th June Free Practice 1: 12:30pm Sprint Qualifying: 4:30pm (live on free-to-air TV8) Saturday 29th June Sprint Race: 12pm (live on free-to-air TV8) Qualifying: 4pm (live on free-to-air TV8) Sunday 30 June Austrian Grand Prix: 3pm (delayed on TV8 at 6pm) Read also: F1 GP Spain, Verstappen triumphs again
