The 2024 Formula 1 World Championship heads to the Red Bull Ring, nestled in the hills of Styria, this weekend for the Austrian Grand Prix.
The race, which is round 11 on the calendar, is the second of a triple-header and will host the third Sprint race of the season, after the Chinese and Miami Grands Prix. The Sprint race is a standalone points race that takes place on Saturday, prior to the qualifying session for the main race on Sunday. It has its own qualifying session that takes place on Friday, after a single training session.
The Red Bull Ring, where all the action takes place, is notorious for its high kerbs and is considered one of the toughest tests for suspensions. This is especially true for the kerbs at the exits of turns 1, 6 and 7, which take their toll on the cars due to their height and the speed at which the cars are travelling.
The circuit is also notable for having one of the shortest circuits of the season at just 4,688 miles. This means that completing a lap takes just over a minute.
Red Bull Ring, home of the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix
There are four long straights and three DRS zones. The latter are located on the straight, on the climb from Turns 2 to 3 and between Turns 3 and 4. One change this year is the addition of a wide gravel strip at the exit of Turn 9, designed to prevent track limit violations Reduce.
The track surface is very abrasive, but with only ten corners the lateral forces exerted on the tyres are relatively low, resulting in very limited wear. As a result, Pirelli has nominated its softest compounds: the C3, C4 and C5.
Another factor to consider during the Austrian round is the weather. Due to the Red Bull Ring’s high mountain location, located at approximately 650 meters altitude, temperatures can be somewhat cool and the weather unpredictable. The current forecast calls for nice conditions with peak temperatures near 85 degrees F.
Going into the weekend, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship with 219 points. McLaren’s Lando Norris is second with 150 points and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is third with 148 points. Red Bull leads in the constructors’ championship with 330 points. Ferrari is second with 270 points and McLaren is third with 237 points. Last year’s winner in Austria was Verstappen, driving for Red Bull.