Austrian Grand Prix 2026
Nestled in the breathtaking Styrian Alps, the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring delivers one of the most compact and action-packed weekends on the F1 calendar — short laps, big braking zones, and a partisan crowd that makes Spielberg feel like a home race for the sport itself.
Circuit Facts
Red Bull Ring
Spielberg, Styria, Austria
71
4.318 km
1970 (Österreichring); returned 2014
Carlos Sainz — 1:05.619 (2020)
About the Red Bull Ring
The Red Bull Ring sits high in the Styrian hills near Spielberg, its compact 4.318 km layout punching well above its weight in terms of racing drama. The circuit traces its lineage back to the old Österreichring — a sweeping, high-speed track that hosted the Austrian GP from 1970 — before being extensively redesigned and reopened as the A1 Ring in 1997, then renamed the Red Bull Ring after the energy drink giant purchased and redeveloped the facility in 2011. The modern circuit returned to the F1 calendar in 2014 and has been a fan favourite ever since, offering some of the most overtaking-friendly racing in the sport.
Despite having only ten corners, the Red Bull Ring is deceptively demanding. Significant elevation changes characterise the lap: cars climb steeply out of the first corner complex before plunging down into Turn 3, then rise again through the sweeping middle sector. The combination of high-speed sections, heavy braking zones, and multiple DRS detection points creates genuine overtaking opportunities — a rarity in the modern era. The short lap length also means tyre degradation accumulates quickly, which amplifies the impact of strategy decisions and keeps pit-wall engineers under constant pressure.
Since 2021 the Austrian GP has hosted a Sprint weekend format, adding a Saturday sprint race to the already action-packed programme. Red Bull’s local connections — their factory is just a short drive away in Graz — give the event an extra edge of intensity, and the hillside grandstands packed with passionate supporters create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else on the calendar.
Key Corners
The Red Bull Ring may only have ten corners, but each one plays a critical role in lap time and race strategy — and several are named in honour of Austrian motorsport legends.
Turn 1 — Niki Lauda
Named in honour of Austrian legend and triple World Champion Niki Lauda, the opening corner is a heavy braking zone at the top of the steep climb from the pit straight. Cars arrive at over 300 km/h before scrubbing speed for the tight right-hander — one of the most frequent flashpoints for first-lap contact on the entire F1 calendar.
Turn 2 — Tight Right-Hander
A slow right-hander immediately following Turn 1, Turn 2 is the circuit’s primary overtaking point during the race. The DRS zone leading into the braking area gives trailing cars a real opportunity, and managing tyre temperature through this section often defines whether a team’s strategy succeeds or falls apart.
Turn 3 — Remus
Remus is a fast, sweeping right-hander taken at very high speed after the downhill plunge from Turn 2. It demands huge commitment from drivers and rewards a brave, precise entry. Getting the exit right is critical for pace through the following sequence — a poor Turn 3 can cost meaningful lap time on every single lap.
Turn 9 — Rindt Hairpin
Named after 1970 World Champion Jochen Rindt, this tight hairpin is the circuit’s slowest point and a vital DRS detection spot. Drivers who can carry extra speed around the outside of the preceding sweeper to set up a late braking move into the hairpin frequently gain positions, making it a key battleground lap after lap.
Race Atmosphere
The Austrian GP delivers a festival atmosphere that is almost unrivalled in Formula 1. The hillside grandstands above the circuit provide sweeping panoramic views of the Styrian Alps as the backdrop, turning every spectator position into its own theatre. Camping fans arrive days early, transforming the surrounding fields into a vibrant village of flags, music, and motorsport passion that stretches far beyond the circuit boundaries.
Tyre Strategy
Pirelli typically nominates the Soft and Medium compounds for Austria. The short 4.318 km lap means the field cycles through tyre stints more rapidly than at almost any other venue, bringing pit-stop windows closer together and amplifying the impact of the undercut as a tactical weapon.
High-speed cornering through the middle sector generates lateral tyre stress, while the heavy braking zones at Turns 1–2 and Turn 9 place significant load on the front axle. Most teams opt for a two-stop strategy, though the Sprint weekend format in 2026 changes tyre allocation across the whole weekend, leaving Sunday’s race with a compressed strategy window and adding a further layer of unpredictability to an already frenetic event.
How to Watch the Austrian Grand Prix
In the UK, the Austrian Grand Prix is broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV. As a non-highlighted race for Channel 4’s free-to-air agreement, highlights rather than live coverage are available on Channel 4. The race typically starts in the early-to-mid afternoon UK time, given Austria’s one-hour time advantage over BST.
International viewers can watch via F1 TV Pro, which offers live coverage, onboard cameras, and team radio worldwide. Other regional broadcasters include ESPN (USA), Canal+ (France), Sky Sport (Germany), and ServusTV (Austria), who co-broadcast in partnership with Sky. Check our TV schedule page for confirmed session times.
Previous Winners
| Year | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2024 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2022 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 2021 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |