2024 Austrian GP: Formula 1 records, figures and key data from Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. Records, figures, stats and key data from Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

Austrian Grand Prix Facts

The Austrian Grand Prix has consistently been a highlight of the Formula 1 World Championship since its return to the calendar, drawing massive crowds of up to 200,000 spectators during the 2019 race weekend. However, the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix marked a significant departure from the norm, being the first F1 race held behind closed doors due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Red Bull Ring, nestled in the stunning Austrian countryside, has been the setting for several memorable moments in recent F1 history. In 2020, it hosted the eagerly awaited opening round of a delayed season and went on to make history by hosting a second race the following weekend. While Valtteri Bottas claimed victory in the season opener, Lewis Hamilton secured the win in the subsequent Styrian Grand Prix, kickstarting his seventh title-winning campaign.

The excitement continued in 2021 as the Red Bull Ring played host to back-to-back races once again. Max Verstappen dominated both events, becoming the first driver since Damon Hill in 1996 to achieve consecutive victories in the same country. Although the Styrian Grand Prix saw a limited number of fans in attendance, a remarkable 132,000 spectators filled the grandstands for the Austrian Grand Prix, marking the largest turnout since the pandemic began. The event returned to full capacity in 2022, signaling a triumphant return to normalcy.

In March 2023, Projekt Spielberg, the race promoter, inked a significant four-year contract extension with Formula 1, ensuring that the Austrian Grand Prix would remain on the calendar until at least 2027. Following further negotiations during the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix weekend, the deal was extended for an additional three years, guaranteeing the race’s presence until at least 2030.

Austrian Grand Prix: Fascinating Facts

– Niki Lauda remains the only Austrian driver to have clinched victory at his home race, achieving this feat in 1984, the same year he secured his third and final World Championship title.
– In 2021, Max Verstappen set a new record for the most F1 wins in Austria with his fourth victory at the circuit during the Austrian Grand Prix.
– The Red Bull Ring’s short track length often leads to tightly contested qualifying sessions, with seven of the last 11 pole positions being decided by less than a tenth of a second.
– David Coulthard experienced a string of four consecutive runner-up finishes at the Austrian Grand Prix between 1997 and 2000 before finally claiming victory in 2001.
– Despite boasting the quickest lap times on the current calendar, with the 2020 pole position lap clocking in at just under 63 seconds, the Red Bull Ring ranks as the fourth shortest track on the schedule, following Monaco, Mexico, and Brazil.
– Since its inaugural race in 1970, the track now known as the Red Bull Ring has hosted a total of 37 Formula 1 races.
– Previously known as the Österreichring (1970-1987) and the A1-Ring (1997-2003), the Austrian Grand Prix has been held at the venue 35 times, including the 2020 and 2021 Styrian Grands Prix. Over the course of these 37 races, 24 different drivers have tasted victory at the circuit.

Other key data:

Max Verstappen solidifies his dominance in Austria with his fifth triumph at the Red Bull Ring in 2023, making him the most successful driver at the circuit.

Joining an exclusive club of drivers to achieve consecutive victories at the Austrian Grand Prix are Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, and Max Verstappen. Notably, no driver has managed to secure more than two consecutive wins at this challenging circuit.

Among the current grid, four drivers boast previous victories at the Red Bull Ring. Max Verstappen leads the pack with five wins, followed by Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, each with two triumphs. Charles Leclerc added his name to the winners’ list with a memorable victory in 2022.

In the team standings, McLaren and Mercedes share the spotlight with six victories each, showcasing their historical prowess at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Red Bull Ring has witnessed its fair share of team dominance, with eight instances of teams securing a 1-2 finish. Ferrari, Williams, McLaren, and Mercedes are the illustrious names etched into this record.

In terms of nail-biting finishes, the Austrian Grand Prix has delivered some of the closest margins in Formula 1 history. The smallest winning margin, a mere 0.05 seconds, occurred in 1982 when Elio de Angelis clinched victory for Lotus, fending off Keke Rosberg in a thrilling battle for debut race victories on the final lap.

The intensity doesn’t stop there, with 23 races decided by less than ten seconds and 16 races won by less than five seconds, including six out of the 12 since Formula 1 returned to the circuit in 2014.

Adding to the drama, six races at the Red Bull Ring have been decided by less than a second, with the most recent occurrence in 2017.

Over the past decade, the average winning margin at the circuit stands at 8.743 seconds, underscoring the competitiveness and excitement that define the Austrian Grand Prix.