Formula 1 2014: Round 8 - Austrian Grand Prix

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Race Preview 2014 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX

20-22 JUNE 2014

For the eighth round of the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship, the sport’s teams return to a country last visited by F1 11 years ago – Austria. The last incarnation of the Austrian Grand Prix was held from 1997 to 2003 at the circuit known as the A1 Ring and it is to that venue that F1 heads once again, though the rechristened Red Bull Ring has seen major trackside updates since.

The track, however, remains much as it was in 2003. One of the shortest on the calendar at 4.326km, the Red Bull Ring features just nine corners. It is a circuit of fast straights and slow- and medium-speed corners with, historically, just the first three taken in low gear. As such, lap times were low – with sub-1m10s laps the norm. Average speeds were high, with the 2003 event seeing Michael Schumacher win with an average speed of 213km/h.

Historic data will matter little this weekend, however, as F1’s teams brings their cutting-edge 1.6-litre, hybrid, turbocharged 2014 cars to the circuit. The best teams can hope for is that their simulations prove accurate. What can’t be modelled, however, is how the circuit will stack up in terms of surface characteristics and how it will evolve as sessions unfold. All this will have to factored into team preparations on Friday and Saturday morning.

Last time out, in Canada, Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo scored a memorable maiden win. Capitalising on a troubled race for previously dominant Mercedes, the result was a major step forward for the Austrian-licensed team and it will be looking to continue that good form at its home track.

In the Drivers’ Championship, second place in Montreal allowed Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg to extend his title lead over team-mate Lewis Hamilton to 22 points. The Briton will be keen to redress the balance in Spielberg, but on a circuit unfamiliar to the bulk of the current field, this latest iteration of the Austrian GP could turn out to be one of the most unpredictable of the season so far.

Session Times:

Thursday 19th June
14:00 to 14:45 – F1: Driver Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
20:45 to 21:00 – F1: Gear Up for Austria (Sky Sports F1)

Friday 20th June
08:45 to 11:00 – F1: Practice 1 (Sky Sports F1)
11:00 to 11:50 – GP2: Practice (Sky Sports F1)
12:45 to 14:50 – F1: Practice 2 (Sky Sports F1)
14:50 to 15:30 – GP2: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
16:00 to 16:45 – F1: Team Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
17:00 to 18:00 – The F1 Show (Sky Sports F1)
18:00 to 19:00 – GP Heroes: Ronnie Peterson (Sky Sports F1)
18:45 to 19:00 – Inside F1 (BBC News Channel)

Saturday 21st June
08:45 to 09:20 – GP3: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
09:45 to 11:15 – F1: Practice 3 (Sky Sports F1)
12:00 to 14:35 – F1: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
13:00 to 14:05 – F1: Qualifying (BBC Radio 5 Live)
14:35 to 16:05 – GP2: Race 1 (Sky Sports F1)
16:20 to 17:20 – GP3: Race 1 (Sky Sports F1)
16:45 to 18:00 – F1: Qualifying Highlights (BBC One)

Sunday 22nd June
08:25 to 09:25 – GP3: Race 2 (Sky Sports F1)
09:30 to 10:45 – GP2: Race 2 (Sky Sports F1)
11:30 to 16:15 – F1: Race (Sky Sports F1)
=> 11:30 – Track Parade
=> 12:00 – Race
=> 15:30 – Paddock Live
12:30 to 15:00 – F1: Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)
19:30 to 21:00 – F1: Race Highlights (BBC Two)

CIRCUIT DATA

RED BULL RING

Length of lap
4.326km
Lap record
1:08.337 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2003)
Start line/finish line offset
0.126km
Total number of race laps
71
Total race distance
307.020km
Pitlane speed limits
80km/h in practice, qualifying and the race

CIRCUIT NOTES

► There was no corresponding event in 2013. This is Formula One’s first visit to the circuit since 2003 and there have been many upgrades made in the intervening years.

DRS ZONES

► There will be two DRS zones in Austria. The detection point of the first zone is 360m before Turn Two, with the activation point 85m after Turn Two. The second detection point is 10m after Turn Eight with the activation point 110m after Turn Nine.

Track Map:

Click above to watch Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo preview the Red Bull Ring

Fast Facts

► Even though the last Austrian Grand Prix was 11 years ago, there are four drivers on the grid who have F1 racing experience at this circuit in its A1 Ring guise. Jenson Button has made four appearances here – from 2000-2003. His best result here came at the most recent race in 2003 when he qualified seventh and finished fourth for BAR/Honda.

► Kimi Räikkönen has three Austrian GPs on his CV. In 2001 he started in ninth place for Sauber and finished fourth to claim the second of four points finishes in his debut season. In 2002, having moved to McLaren, his race was stopped after seven laps with engine failure, but the following year, again with McLaren, he qualified and finished in second place.

► Fernando Alonso has raced here twice, with Minardi in 2001 and with Renault in 2003. On both occasions he failed to finish. His first attempt was ended by gearbox trouble after 38 laps and an engine problem saw him exit the ’03 race after 44 laps.

► Felipe Massa, meanwhile, raced at the A1 Ring for Sauber in his debut season, 2002. He qualified seventh but retired from the grand prix with a suspension problem after seven laps.

► Two other current drivers have racing experience here: McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen raced at the circuit last year in Formula Renault 3.5 Series with DAMS. The Dane finished both weekend races in third place. Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat raced at the Red Bull Ring in 2012 in Formula Renault 2.0 Alps. The Russian won both races of the fifth-round weekend.

► Kvyat’s Toro Rosso team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne has driven the Red Bull Ring but only in a show car run for sister team Red Bull Racing in 2013. Red Bull Racing drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel have also visited the track, Ricciardo for a filming day, while Vettel drove the track last month, piloting a 2012 Red Bull Racing RB8 for a promotional film about the grand prix’s return to Austria.

► McLaren is the most successful team at the Austrian GP with six wins. The victories came in 1984 with Niki Lauda, in 1985-’86 with Alain Prost, in 1998 and 2000 with Mika Häkkinen and in 2001 courtesy of David Coulthard. The next most successful are Ferrari with five wins (1964, ’70, ’99, 2002 and 2003) and Lotus with four (1972, ’73, ’78 and ’82).

► Alain Prost has the most victories of any driver at the Austrian Grand Prix. The Frenchman won in 1983 with Renault and then took back-to-back wins for McLaren in 1985-’86.

► The current circuit configuration largely mirrors that of the A1 Ring, where the race was won from pole position three times in seven events. Jacques Villeneuve won from the front of the grid in 1997, as did Häkkinen in 2000 and Michael Schumacher in 2003. The A1 Ring race was only won from further back than third on the grid once, in 2001, when David Coulthard started in seventh position.







Team Quotes

Austria will host a Grand Prix for the first time in more than a decade when the paddock travels to Spielberg for round eight of the 2014 championship on June 20-22. Those involved in the Formula 1 Grosser Preis von Osterreich 2014 discuss their prospects...

Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
"Montreal was a bit of a strange one for me. I felt I had the pace right from the beginning of the weekend, but things just never quite came together. It's frustrating when these things are out of your hands. The two DNF's so far this season have not been ideal but that's racing and there's a long, long way to go. I caught up before and I can catch up again. It's going to take another four wins to make the difference so I'm going to do my best to get those results. Right now, I'm just looking ahead to the next race in Austria and another chance to catch up to the lead. I've never driven the circuit but I've been working on it in the simulator and I'm sure I'll learn it pretty quickly when we get out on track. It's always exciting to go to a new venue, so it should be an interesting weekend. I'm feeling good in the car right now and I'll be pushing flat out to come away with maximum points this time around."

Nico Rosberg
"Although it was a really, really tough day, I'm pleased with the result in Montreal. The car was strong throughout the weekend, so to have the problems we experienced in the race was not what we expected. It just goes to show that you can never be too well prepared and our priority has been to make sure the car is bullet-proof for the rest of the season. When you take everything into account, finishing second in that race was quite an achievement for everyone in the team. But we know we cannot afford to slip up, as our rivals are always there to take advantage. I'm looking forward to the next race in Austria and a chance to get back to our winning form once again. Although I've driven the circuit before, that was more than ten years ago in F3: back when it was still called the A1 Ring! Of course, it will be very different in a Turbocharged, V6 Hybrid Formula One car, so it's basically like starting from scratch for everyone on the grid. Personally, I love that kind of challenge, so I'm excited to get back in the car and go for another top result."

Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"Canada was a weekend of mixed emotions. On the one side, we had strong pace throughout the weekend. On the other, a small glitch in what has been an extremely reliable package so far this season proved to be extremely detrimental when it really counted on Sunday. It's something we immediately moved to analyse, understand and rectify to make sure it does not happen again. Nico drove a fantastic race to maintain second position, while it was just a case of extremely bad luck for Lewis who was forced to retire. Obviously, Nico now holds an increased gap at the top of the Championship, but Lewis is a fighter and I have no doubt that he will come back stronger than ever. There is still a long way to go with twelve races remaining - thirteen if you count the double points round - so his challenge is far from over. This race shows how quickly things can change - not just between drivers, but between teams also - so we will be pushing harder than ever to ensure that we do not give away any more valuable points to our rivals."

Paddy Lowe, Mercedes team executive director (technical)
"The performance of the car in Canada was once again very strong. Unfortunately, we were unable to fully capitalise on that performance in the race. We saw an extraordinary drive from Nico to salvage second place with malfunctioning machinery, but it was extremely unfortunate for Lewis that we were unable to manage the failure on his car to the same extent. This has once again created a sizeable points deficit for Lewis through no fault of his own. But, of course, we are doing our utmost to give both drivers the opportunity to compete for the Championship on equal terms. We put a significant amount of effort into understanding the problem that occurred in Canada and ensuring that there will be no repeat in Austria. We're excited by the prospect of a return to Spielberg after many years away and hoping for a return to form results-wise. It's a short circuit with a lot of braking and high fuel consumption, so it will be another challenging race. The venue is also at high altitude which, owing to the low atmospheric pressure, places a different kind of duty on the Power Unit to what we've seen so far. It will be interesting to see how well both we and the competition respond to that."

Lotus
Romain Grosjean
“Competing in the Grand Prix will be my first experience there, which is a pretty cool way to get to know a track! It looks like quite a fun lap with some high speed sections and not too much low speed stuff - which hasn’t suited our car so far this year. The track has a bit of undulation too, which is always fun as a driver. A downhill approach to a corner means you have to drive it quite a bit differently than if it’s an uphill approach and Spielberg has both of those. It should be fun.

“We won’t know for sure until we’ve been out on track, but I don’t think the circuit should be as much of a challenge to us as Monaco or Montréal. Certainly there are fewer low speed corners which seem to have been more difficult for us this season and the downforce level could suit us better too.

“I am positive. Even though the end result in Canada might not show it, we’ve actually made good progress with the car and it’s starting to feel like a real racer in how it handles and how all the systems feel. This is very important to me as it helps you get the most out of the car through every corner to make the most of every lap.”

Pastor Maldonado
“I know the track, but it was maybe ten years ago when I last raced there and it will be new for me in an F1 car. I think it should be quite good for the E22. It looks like the circuit doesn’t have too many low-speed corners and the downforce and set-up is similar to Barcelona, which should help us. We will work hard to solve the problems we had in Canada so that we can reach our targets in Austria. I’m certainly optimistic Austria will suit us better than the last two rounds.

“[The last time I raced there] was in Formula Renault and I finished on the podium. Actually I think I won, but I don’t remember to be honest! It’s a high-downforce track. Most of the corners are very quick, especially in the second sector. It’s a lot of fun to race there and I’m happy to be going back.”

Federico Gastaldi, Lotus deputy team principal
“It’s good to see another race on the calendar and it exposes our sponsors and partners to another market. For the drivers and engineers it presents a different challenge. It’s quite a short track, but one with plenty to think about. The racing could well be very good.

“We have potential which is still to be fulfilled. Canada was a kick where it hurts for everyone at the team but we took stock, identified the issues and have taken action to avoid any repeats. The last thing you want is both cars sat in the garage at the end of a race, but that’s what we had. Thankfully it is very rare for us.”

Nick Chester, Lotus technical director
“The layout requires a medium-downforce package for the car. In terms of demands it’s similar to Bahrain with some decent straights and then an infield section with medium speed corners. So it’s lower downforce than some tracks on the calendar. Pirelli’s track surface analysis points to a relatively non-abrasive, smooth asphalt which is why we will see the soft and super soft allocation once more.

“We raced there from 1997 to 2003, so there’s a certain knowledge bank we can dip into. In particular we have information about driving lines which improves the accuracy of our simulations. In contrast, with a brand new circuit it’s more complicated because we have to generate a driving line to be able to run a simulation and without a real driving line the simulated corner speeds will not necessarily be 100 percent. We’ve already got real data for Austria, so we can do a basic simulation quite easily.

“We have a number of aero updates and we have some more work to do on braking. There is a good chunk of time still to be found in the braking zone and the key to unlocking this potential is enabling the latest brake-by-wire systems to deliver better feedback to the drivers.”

Red Bull
Sebastian Vettel
“I have great memories of the Red Bull Ring. I was 13 years old when I first drove around it. I had the chance to test a Formula car from the Auinger family. That is a huge step if you’re coming from a karting background. It was something completely new and it took me a while to get used to it. I’m really happy that we will race there. The circuit is actually very pretty, not only the track, but the whole area. The circuit’s set amid a beautiful natural landscape. There are not many distractions there - it’s just about racing. The Red Bull Ring is a short track, with only a few turns, but it’s very challenging. There are also a lot of elevation changes, which makes it interesting and fun. The fans will have a great time as every grandstand offers a great view of the circuit.”

Daniel Ricciardo
“It’s great to be going to Red Bull’s home race after an awesome weekend in Canada. I’ve only driven the Red Bull Ring on filming days, essentially a handful of laps without the out-and-out aggression that you’ll see at the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. It’s a tidy circuit, not the longest and not many corners, but what is there is good. Turn 1 is cool as it climbs up the hill. It looks tight, but actually isn’t. Turn 2 is quite a tight right-hand corner, going uphill and off-camber as well. Then it drops back down all the way through the rest of the track. It’s very odd going to what, essentially, is a new race but in a place where the racing history is firmly established. It sounds as though there will be a massive crowd up in the mountains and I’m sure the return of the Austrian Grand Prix will get off to a really good start.”

Force India
Nico Hulkenberg
"Together with Russia, this race is one of the big question marks for everyone this year. The track has some long straights and a few slow corners that should suit us, and we can count on making the most of softer compounds as we did in Canada. When you go to a new track it's even more important to maximise the practice sessions because there is so much more to learn. The lap is quite short so the gaps between the cars will be minimal and even small mistakes can make a big difference. We have shown once more to be both competitive and consistent, but we will need to keep our guard up and keep working hard as we did from the start. There will be tracks where we will be stronger and where we can capitalise on the opportunities we have, and tracks that will be more of a challenge. I know what plans the team has for the rest of the season and I see no reason why we cannot keep battling at the level we are at now."

Sergio Perez
"I don't really know what to expect because it's my first visit to the track, but I'm really looking forward to going there. It's a circuit that not many people know and so it can give you an opportunity to find a small advantage. You have to learn fast and be ready to adapt. A new circuit is always a bit more of a challenge, but it's interesting and I like the look of the track layout. I think the layout of the track will work well for our car. Hopefully we will have the opportunity for another strong performance there."

Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
"The last time Formula One raced [in Austria], the cars were very different from what they are now so it is difficult to predict how the pecking order will be. We don't expect massive surprises, however - cars that have been competitive so far will retain their advantage. The track layout seems likely to be favourable to the characteristics of the VJM07, but the competitive order is very tight and we will need to be performing at our best to come away with a good result.

"Nico drove a brilliant race [in Canada] to score another ten points, but up until the last lap it looked like being an even sweeter result with both cars very well placed. The accident for Sergio on the last lap took that away from us, but we should not forget the positives: our tyre management was excellent and we were able to race at the front and challenge for the win. It was one of our strongest races. By no means are we going to ease off at this point. The development race is not going to stop: we are working hard to bring updates to the car and give our drivers an even better chance to score big results."

Sauber
Esteban Gutierrez
"The track in Spielberg is new for me and for many other drivers as well. It is always interesting to have new tracks on the Formula One race calendar. Last year there were quite a few tracks on which I drove for the first time, and now with Spielberg there is another new one. It is a fast circuit, so I am going to enjoy it. It will be an interesting event as the Austrians like Formula One and are nice and cheerful people. I hope we can feel the passion and the support for the sport, so that it can be a successful event. I am looking forward to the race weekend."

Adrian Sutil
"I am looking forward to the Austrian Grand Prix. I have never been to Spielberg with Formula One. I know the track from previous racing series in my career, and I really like it. At that time I was participating in Formula Ford and Formula 3. Obviously, I hope for a positive result there. In Canada it was good to finish the race and to get the maximum out of the car. The team also did a great job with the strategy and the pit stops. I hope we can build on this and make steps forward in every area. I am keeping up my motivation, and I am looking forward to the weekend in Spielberg."

Giampaolo Dall'Ara, Sauber head of track engineering
"The track in Spielberg is a relatively short one, consisting of significant straights with medium speed corners and a hairpin. The race is back on the calendar after 11 years, so it will be interesting to set up the modern Formula One cars for this track. The starting point of our preparatory simulation work was driving lines from back then. Of course quite some progress was also made on that side, and, with the level of detail we can get today, we will most probably just have to do some fine tuning during free practice. We've been informed that the tarmac is moderately abrasive, and we don't expect very hot ambient temperatures. Based on this information, we rate Pirelli's choice of soft and supersoft as appropriate."

Pirelli
Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director
"It's always exciting to go to a new circuit: everyone starts on a level playing field, with the teams and drivers who dial themselves into the new conditions soonest coming out on top. Based on the asphalt samples and track inspections from our engineers, we believe that the two softest compounds in our range will deliver the best compromise between performance and grip on a circuit where the teams are expected to run high downforce. One interesting question mark will be the weather, which is well known for being unpredictable over the circuit. With any new venue, the work done during free practice becomes particularly important, so the teams will be looking to take as much information as possible from the Friday and Saturday sessions in order to assess the behaviour of the tyres on the track with different fuel loads and set-ups. This will be the key to qualifying race strategy. Simulation data suggests that we will see a two-stop race, but this is subject to weather conditions and track evolution, which we will only understand properly after free practice."

Toro Rosso
Jean-Eric Vergne
"I have never raced at this track before, but I did drive it last year in a Formula One Show Car run for Red Bull at a Renault World Series event. I remember the race was very exciting. The track is short, but really nice and I am sure it will make for a very interesting race this weekend. It will be an important event for us as part of the Red Bull family and so I hope we will perform well. We have to consider it as a sort of home race for Toro Rosso."

Daniil Kvyat
"This is one of my favourite circuits. I raced here in Formula Renault Alps and had two wins there in 2012. I had a great weekend and really loved the track. Last year I went back to the Red Bull Ring with Formula 3 this time and again I had great memories taking three poles out of three, followed by three second places in the races. It's my kind of track, with heavy braking points and it is quite a technical track. It has some fast and medium speed corners which I really enjoy. Hopefully the STR9 will go well there. The scenery is beautiful, typical Austrian nature! It's going to be a big weekend for the Red Bull family, but I will be concentrating on the usual jobs of getting everything sorted and finding the right set-up from first free practice, having the right approach and seeing how it goes. You need to find a good balance there as there are some reasonably long straights. But it's mainly about high speed corners which is where you find most of the lap time."

McLaren
Jenson Button
“First, I think it’s great that we’re going back to Austria. Obviously, the Austrian Grand Prix has such a lot of history, the country has had some great drivers and champions in the past, and it’s also currently got a world-class Grand Prix team, so it makes a lot of sense for us to be racing there again.

“Second, I think it’s a great venue, a fantastic location for a Grand Prix. From my previous visits, I remember the clear mountain air, the cool morning temperatures before the sun hit the paddock, and the fast, sweeping corners that still largely exist, and which give this circuit a great feel from the cockpit. I remember the racing line for Turn 1 would lead us far out over the exit kerbs and onto the Tarmac run-off - it was crazy!

“It’ll be interesting to see what has changed in the intervening 10 years - I hear that the track has been left largely unchanged, but that the pits and paddock have been renovated. I think that’s a good call - the track is simple but great. A mini-classic.”

Kevin Magnussen
“It’s strange to be able to say it, but, of all the drivers on the F1 grid, I’ve probably got the most recent experience of racing at the Red Bull Ring, because two rounds of the World Series by Renault were held there last summer.

“It’s a very cool place - it’s a circuit where you never really get to rest in the cockpit because the track is always going somewhere; there’s only really one ‘straight’ straight, along the start/finish line, but it’s book-ended by fast corners so the opportunity you get to relax is pretty minimal.

“But that’s what makes it so enjoyable - every lap is a real adrenaline rush because the corners never stop coming. You need to really be on top of the car around here, you want it to be doing exactly what you ask of it, simply because the lap is so physical, the driver is actually doing a lot of work, so he needs his car to take as much of that burden as possible.

“I think this’ll be a great new addition to the calendar - the circuit is a hardcore racetrack, the fans are passionate and the venue is spectacular.”

Eric Boullier, McLaren racing director
“Jenson’s fine fourth place in Canada was more the result of some great team strategy calls and a hungry and opportunistic drive from Jenson himself than an improvement in the overall pace of our car. Kevin drove very well in Montreal, too, although his race was thwarted by traffic and ill luck. Still, it’s a mark of the strength of the organisation that we can achieve results like these at a track where it’s often easy to falter.

“Nonetheless, we’re still not where we need to be. Since the beginning of the season, we’ve stated that we need to bring more downforce to the car. Of course, that’s a constantly moving target - for this weekend, however, we'll be evaluating a number of short- and long-term performance steps. It’s still too early to feel confident about calling them raceable options - it’s more about evaluating their applicability at the circuit than simply hoping they’ll improve lap-time. Nonetheless, we hope the steps will pave the way for an improvement.

“I’m looking forward to a challenging but successful weekend in Austria. It’s good news to see a new, albeit historic, European venue added to the calendar, and everybody will be hoping that this weekend’s event is a successful one.”

Marussia
Jules Bianchi
“I always enjoy the challenge of a new circuit. It isn’t new for everyone of course, but I think the starting point will be pretty similar for all of the teams as it’s been such a long time since F1 raced there. Adapting to a new circuit is one of my favourite challenges as a driver, both in terms of working with my engineers to tailor the car to the track and also putting to the test my own ability to get to grips with a new layout and characteristics. I really enjoy this. We’ve done some simulation work and the track looks really good; another interesting challenge for us. I hope we can continue the strong direction we have seen at recent events and get a nice result for the team.”

Max Chilton
“I’m really looking forward to my first Austrian Grand Prix and my first experience of Spielberg. So far this season it has been a case of consolidating my experience of tracks I raced at for the first time last year in my debut season, so it’s nice to shake it up a bit with an unknown quantity and level the playing field a bit. From our simulations the track looks fun and fast, so I’m sure I will enjoy getting to grips with it. The car is performing well at the moment so we’ll be looking to make the most of that and ensure a positive weekend for the team.”

John Booth, Marussia team principal
“We’re very excited to begin the next European phase of the season in Austria, which is like a brand new Formula One race for the majority of our team yet, at the same time, is a venue with a fascinating history. A few of our number have experienced the circuit previously, but to all intents and purposes the sport has had to begin its approach to this Grand Prix with a clean sheet of paper. As is the case up and down the field, we will be reliant upon the simulation work we have conducted in recent weeks, together with the proven ability of our young engineers and drivers to read and adapt to the demands of a new circuit once running is underway. Our package has shown great promise during the course of the last few race weekends and it goes without saying that the team will be focusing its efforts on extracting even more of that potential and hopefully underlining our recent trend in keeping the midfield in our sights.”

Mattia Binotto, Scuderia Ferrari engine & electronics deputy director
“After the setback in Canada there is a great desire to make the most of every opportunity at the next event in Austria. Eleven years have passed since the last time this circuit hosted a Formula One Grand Prix. The main characteristics of the track have remained unchanged and therefore it continues as one of the circuits where the engine runs at maximum rpm for a high percentage of the lap. At the time of naturally aspirated engines, the altitude - the circuit is over 600 metres above sea level - made life easier from a reliability point of view, but now with the use of the turbocharger this advantage is cancelled and we can expect a similar challenge to that posed by the Montreal circuit. We worked a lot on the analysis of the problems we experienced. We believe we have identified the causes and have put in place the necessary remedial actions. The free practice sessions will be important to develop all the settings of the power unit in order to obtain the best performance, with a focus on how to use the MGU-K."

Caterham
Kamui Kobayashi
“The Red Bull Ring is a completely new circuit for me. I’ve seen a lot of on-boards of the track and it’ll be a good challenge. It’s quick, some of it really fast, and there’s a couple of big braking zones so, as usual, getting the setup right is going to be crucial. However, until I’ve actually driven there I don’t want to make any predictions about what it’ll be like for us so let’s see when we get on track. Whatever happens, I’m sure it’ll be a good weekend for the fans, and hopefully for us too.

“To be totally honest we would benefit a lot from a good weekend. We were unlucky again in Canada, with both cars having to retire because of reliability issues, something we’ve been focusing on from our side all year, and something Renault have improved dramatically from the early part of the season. Even though our pace in the early part of the Canadian GP was not where it should have been, our simulations have shown that, had we finished, we’d have been closer to the pack than it may have looked at the point where I had to retire, so this weekend it’s important we cross the line. We have to finish the races so we can be there if and when it counts, and that’s one of the main goals this weekend.”

Marcus Ericsson
“I’ve never raced in Austria before so it’ll be really interesting to go to a brand new track for me, even though I’m well aware of the history of the circuit. A bit like Monaco, Ronnie Peterson won there so it’ll be another race I go to in his footsteps and after Monaco, where I met his daughter Nina, that means even more to me so, honestly, I can’t wait!

“It’ll also be good to be able to get back in the car after only a few laps of the race in Canada. We’d had a hard weekend until that point anyway, so an early DNF was even more hard to take, but I came straight back to the factory with the boys after the race and everyone just went straight back to work to prepare for the next race.

“So, Austria and what looks like will be a quick track. It looks relatively simple, but, like everywhere we race, getting the balance right all weekend is a real challenge, especially for the downhill right at turn three and then through four and into the quick lefts at five and six. You’ll need a good flow through there, and for the whole lap, so you can build up a rhythm and really push and that’s what I want to do for the whole weekend. It would be good to leave Austria in a positive note - it’s been a while since we had one and with the big efforts everyone’s putting in across the team the whole time, I think it’s something we could do with.”

Williams
Felipe Massa
“There are very few guys who have driven the circuit which is a little advantage but the track and limit may have changed and the cars have changed so it won't be the same as 11 years ago. It's not a difficult track to learn and we have the best drivers in the world in Formula One so they will be able to get up to speed very quickly. We can be competitive here but at the moment it's hard to tell where we will be compared to our competition.”

Valtteri Bottas
“I've spent a lot of time in the simulator to prepare of Austria as I haven't driven the circuit before. I have also spoken with Felipe as he is one of the four drivers who have raced this track in Formula One. Learning a new track has never been a problem for me and I have the practice sessions to get to grips with things. I have heard only good things about the track and the fans, so I am really looking forward to getting there. It's a little unknown how competitive we will be as there will be some upgrades, but we will as always give it our best.”

Rob Smedley, Williams head of vehicle performance
“Austria represents a new challenge for us and therefore a lot of new opportunity to do well. Formula One hasn't been there for 11 years so it's exciting to go back. The layout of the track can pose issues on the tyres, especially as the temperatures can vary to quite hot or very cold, this can also change quickly. A hot track would affect the rear tyres as there is a large traction requirement, however in the colder conditions we may suffer with front right graining at Turns Five and Six. There may also be brake overheating problems as it is a high duty track, which is something we will need to look out for. The track is short and there are 71 laps which will affect the race strategy so we will have to be more dynamic in this area. All the teams will have done extensive work on the simulator to learn the typology of the circuit and the demands it poses on tyres and the car, so we are all prepared for an exciting weekend ahead.”

Race Stats via the F1StatMan

Austria might not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of F1 drivers, but Austrians have won 41 races, putting them seventh highest, above Australia, Spain and many more. Austria has had 16 F1 drivers and two champions, between them winning four championships.
The track hasn’t been used in F1 since 2003, when it was called the A1 Ring, before that being called the Österreichring. Just four of the current drivers, Massa, Raikkonen, Alonso and Button, have raced at the Red Bull/A1 Ring in F1, with only Raikkonen finishing on the podium.

There have been 26 Austrian GPs, with 25 of them at the current track that has had three different names, and one at Zeltweg Airfield in 1964. The Red Bull Ring is a 4.326km long circuit with just nine corners, the least corners on the calendar. The race will have 71 laps and a race distance of 307.146km. Just seven of the 25 races at the Red Bull Ring have been won from pole position, six from second on the grid, meaning just 52% have been won from the front row of the grid, the lowest on the calendar.

Mercedes may have lost their win record, but they do still have every pole position and have finished no lower than second. Red Bull Racing and the smiling Australian Daniel Ricciardo have finished on the podium for the last three races, obviously wanting to get a fourth at their own track.

The Silly Stats
The shape of Austria looks somewhat similar to a chicken drumstick, and you could cover the track with around 14,420,000 of them, enough for every person in Austria to have a drumstick and still have six million drumsticks left over.

Preview courtesy of the FIA, Formula1.com, f1broadcasting.wordpress.com, f1statblog.co.uk, and Infiniti Red Bull Racing.

More GP information can be found here

_rebelkid

After an 11-year absence, the Austrian Grand Prix makes a welcome return to the calendar in 2014, much to the delight of the many Austrians in the paddock. We spoke to Niki Lauda, Gerhard Berger, Alex Wurz, Franz Tost, Helmut Marko and Toto Wolff about their memories of the event and what the revival of the race means to both them and the country as a whole...

With its picturesque rolling hills, cow-dotted Alpine meadows and soaring mountain peaks, the Styria region of Austria doesn’t immediately strike you as a hub of motorsport. But for over 50 years this particularly green part of the country has been a mecca for Austrian race fans.

In the early days they came to watch local boy Jochen Rindt take on the opposition at the rudimentary, enthusiast-created race track at Zeltweg airfield (venue of the inaugural Austrian Grand Prix in 1964), then to watch Niki Lauda tame the mighty 5.9km Osterreichring (which hosted 18 races between 1970 and 1987), and in more recent times to see Alex Wurz mix it with the cream of the modern crop on the shorter, but no less challenging, Spielberg track (home to the Austrian Grand Prix between 1997 and 2003).

And now, after an 11-year absence, the country that has produced 14 Formula One drivers, three race winners and two world drivers’ champions, is back on the F1 calendar.

“The comeback of F1 means a lot for Austria and the Austrian fans,” explained the country’s most recent Grand Prix winner, Gerhard Berger. “They get the chance to taste motorsport again at its best, and all orchestrated by Red Bull - the masters of cool events!”

As Berger suggests, the revival of the Austrian Grand Prix owes much to Red Bull, the Austrian company whose eponymous team have won the last four drivers and constructors’ crowns. Having undertaken major refurbishments that brought the venue into the modern era, they re-opened the Spielberg track in 2011.

Niki Lauda, Mercedes’ non-executive chairman and the man who became Austria’s second world champion in 1975, is, like Berger, delighted that his homeland is to once again stage a Grand Prix.

“Formula One returning to Austria is simply fantastic,” he said. “I only can say bravo to Red Bull’s bold move to revitalise the track for a Grand Prix. For Austria it’s a fantastic international showcase and it means being back in the highest class of motorsport again. I expect a sizzling weekend and I’m sure that I won’t be disappointed.”

“What immediately springs to my mind when I think of the Austrian Grand Prix? Cows, the land and its people. Alpine feelings spiced with race cars!”

Lauda famously became the only Austrian to win on home soil when he triumphed in the 1984 race, but for Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, the race that really stands out is the inaugural event at the Osterreichring in 1970 when home favourite Jochen Rindt was in contention for victory.

“The track was sold out to the very last seat and by the time the race started everything else was sold out too: beer, sausages - everything,” he recalled.

“Rindt started from pole position but had to retire because of an engine failure. What happened with the crowd the moment that he stopped was unforgettable: it sent a shockwave through the grandstands - people left because they couldn’t stand the emotional stress.

“Never before had Austria been so drawn into a sporting event as at that race. I hope we can bring that spirit back this year - and the odds look good: within 36 hours all 180,000 tickets were sold out. So the enthusiasm is still alive!”

Marko isn’t the only person in the paddock who feels sentimental about Formula One racing’s return to Spielberg - before he became involved in F1 circles, Mercedes’ head of motorsport Toto Wolff used to instruct at the circuit’s famous Walter Lechner Racing School.

“I lived on a farm there and every morning I went to the track to give my lectures,” recalled Wolff. “At the time I was dreaming of a big fat racing career. Every time I come close to that place I get very sentimental. I am so happy that F1 is returning to this fantastic track.”

Alex Wurz came fifth in his home race in 1999 and gets similarly misty-eyed when reminiscing about the Spielberg track.

“The old Osterreichring holds many fond memories for me,” he explained. “It was there that I did my first ever laps in a single-seater, where I managed my first win in a Formula Ford car and where I had my first outing in a Formula One car - a Red Bull-backed Sauber. So you could almost say that I am a ‘product’ of that race track.”

The current circuit configuration in Spielberg is nigh on identical to that used in 2003, the last time that F1 racing visited. Whilst it is considerably shorter than the original Osterreichring (4.3km rather than 5.9km), it retains many of the characteristics - the undulations and sweeping corners - that made the famous old track so popular, and for that we can thank Alex Wurz’s father.

“My dad - on behalf of the Styrian provincial government - redesigned the old track that was then to become the A1-Ring, and I did the first layout drawings!” explained Wurz.

“In reality the Red Bull Ring, as it is now called, has still got that old track layout with some modifications. What always made the F1 race stand out was that it was the event with the most overtaking - that’s why we always saw extremely exciting races, both on TV and at the track.”

“I would say it has kept the essence of the old circuit,” agreed Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost who, like Wolff, also used to instruct at the Walter Lechner Racing School in his early career.

“It has some really difficult corners such as the double left hander (Turns 5 and 6) where you always have a lot of understeer. The other advantage of the new Red Bull Ring is that the spectators can now see the cars for I think 90 percent of the lap, which is really fantastic for the fans.”

Speaking of fans, the huge crowds that have flocked to the circuit over the years have been treated to a host of fantastic races, a few surprise results and the odd controversial moment. Who can forget Vittorio Brambilla crashing just moments after winning the 1975 race, or Elio de Angelis pipping Keke Rosberg to the line in 1982? And no one who was there will ever forget Rubens Barrichello controversially gifting victory to Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher in 2002.

Unfortunately there won’t be a home favourite for the crowd to cheer in 2014, but could the country’s return to the calendar inspire the next Lauda, Berger or Wurz? Marko certainly hopes so.

“Austria has a long history of great drivers - and there is always the hope that a home Grand Prix will again trigger talents to come forward, even if I have to say that every Austrian who ever made it to F1 was a ‘lone wolf’. We are missing such characters right now in the Austrian talent scene.”

But who knows, perhaps in a few years from now, the locals will have another hero to cheer.

Courtesy of formula1.com

Frankie Lee

Good to see the DRS zones have been kept to the short straights. Turn 2 used to be a great spectacle back in the day, DRS would have ruined it. A pity that the gravel traps have been Tilked.

Jordan 199

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrMqT2FQ-KA

_rebelkid

They're adding skid blocks to the cars because sparks make them look more "spectacular"...

antodeco

Are Setanta showing the GP2 this weekend?

Zcott

_rebelkid wrote: »

They're adding skid blocks to the cars because sparks make them look more "spectacular"...

Surprisingly I'm actually ok with this. I mean, everyone wants to do something to enhance the noise and it looks like it'll be some sort of extra tubing an exhaust or something. So what's the difference between that and a spark block?

Cookie_Monster

sparks? Do they think the average f1 is seven or something?

Mike Litoris

Zcott wrote: »

Surprisingly I'm actually ok with this. I mean, everyone wants to do something to enhance the noise and it looks like it'll be some sort of extra tubing an exhaust or something. So what's the difference between that and a spark block?

Same here. This was a feature until it got banned in the early 90's. Titanium skid plates used to rub when the cars were fully fuelled. Cant remember why they were originally banned, more than likely health and safety and replaced with wooden barge boards.

I am super ok with this comign back.

Peanut Butter Jelly

Cars already have skidblocks at the front end of the plank, so... are they gonna be thicker or how is this gonna work?

donspeekinglesh

Mike Litoris wrote: »

Same here. This was a feature until it got banned in the early 90's. Titanium skid plates used to rub when the cars were fully fuelled. Cant remember why they were originally banned, more than likely health and safety and replaced with wooden barge boards.

Because they introduced the wooden plank in 1994 to force the cars to have a higher ride height, for safety reasons.

Peanut Butter Jelly

OSI wrote: »

I think they're just being made of titanium and put in specific spots to "enhance" the spectacle.

They're already made of titanium and at the lowest point of the floor (the front).

This photo shows the sparks originating at the front of the floor.


Again, how is this news? It's already happening.

Zcott

Rosberg fastest in FP1, a tenth ahead of Hamilton.

Just started watching now and haven't noticed a camera on the inside of turn 2, was always one of my favorites.

EDIT: Just saw it. Being used poorly. :P

Charlie-Bravo

Chilton beats Button in FP3 :pac:

Infoanon

astrofluff wrote: »

Chilton beats Button in FP3 :pac:

Button had an issue with a brake fire which put him out of most of the sesson.

Charlie-Bravo

I know, it was some sarcasm from me. It was uncomfortable viewing to see two union flags side by side at the bottom of the classification board, with Chilton above Button. Poor Chilton gets a lot of flack on here, I was merely re-dressing the balance with some sarcy comments .

_rebelkid

astrofluff wrote: »

I know, it was some sarcasm from me. It was uncomfortable viewing to see two union flags side by side at the bottom of the classification board, with Chilton above Button. Poor Chilton gets a lot of flack on here, I was merely re-dressing the balance with some sarcy comments .

And then you look at r/formula1 and he's the next Jesus. :P

So who will Hamilton be blaming for that?

_rebelkid

WILLIAMS FRONT ROW!

Charlie-Bravo

wow, delighted for Williams and Massa.

T-Bird

_rebelkid wrote: »

WILLIAMS FRONT ROW!

Excellent!

_rebelkid

Qualifying Result:

SnowDrifts

Very unusual the see the rear lock up under braking like that for Lewis... we know from the previous race that he uses more rear brake bias than his team mate....maybe he will be changing that.

Delighted for Massa and Williams!

Would still fancy Rosberg for the race but it'll be good to see how the Mercs handle being back in the field a bit. They haven't had very dominant race pace lately. Obviously there were issues last time in Canada but in Monaco they struggled a lot with tyre wear. Unfortunately Red Bull don't look like they can challenge and Williams will struggle with the tyres as well.

Itssoeasy

What the hell happened there between nico and felippe in the press conference ?

_rebelkid

Itssoeasy wrote: »

What the hell happened there between nico and felippe in the press conference ?

Nico sneezed, Felipé jokingly got angry with him. They both laughed.

Zcott

Seriously impressive, and Massa's lap wasn't even that clean. They have the pace but do the have the durability for tomorrow?

Jordan 199

I think the last time Felipe started on pole was the 2008 Brazilian GP and he went on to win the race.

Good GP2 race on now, shows what the lack of tyre-warmers can do.

lolie

Nice to see no Mercs on the front row for a change.
I'm hoping Bottas can get his first row tomorrow but can't see past Rosberg unless he has problems.

flazio

lolie wrote: »

Nice to see no Mercs on the front row for a change.
I'm hoping Bottas can get his first row tomorrow but can't see past Rosberg unless he has problems.

Remind me again who powers the Williams? :P

Mike Litoris

Tomorrows race should be interesting. I always found races on the track boring but with drs there should be some decent overtaking. It will be interesting to see who has out and out race pace. I just hope the Williams don't go backwards.

lolie

flazio wrote: »

Remind me again who powers the Williams? :P

Ha. I meant nico or lewis.

flazio

lolie wrote: »

Ha. I meant nico or lewis.

It's funny isn't it. This time last year we would have said the same about Red Bull.

Mike Litoris

Brilliant from WTF1

_rebelkid

Mike Litoris wrote: »

Brilliant from WTF1

Twas on r/formula1 long before WTF1 got to it. But WTF1 still has great quality stuff.

lolie

flazio wrote: »

It's funny isn't it. This time last year we would have said the same about Red Bull.

How quickly things change. Looking forward to a good race.

Anyone else annoyed about Kobayashi being in the Caterham? If he was in anything else other than that or a Marussia he'd constantly be providing entertainment in the race.

Jordan 199

I'm looking forward to watching Lewis making his way up from ninth and finishing up in the top three in the race.

Lawlesz

What time is the race starting at? Is it at 1 or 2?

_rebelkid

Lawlesz wrote: »

What time is the race starting at? Is it at 1 or 2?

It starts at 1.

Lawlesz

Thanks, I'm in Bulgaria, so I always get mixed up between he times advertised on Sky, local time at the track and my time. Been caught out once too often in the past lol.

Really hope the Williams can stick it out. Hoping Rosberg can win the championship, but I'd settle on a second for him today, and Massa or Bottas on the top step.

Charlie-Bravo

It starts in Ireland at 1pm BST, or 2pm CET for mainland europe, or 3pm in EEST (Bulgaria?). It's 11.09 here in Ireland now, so in less than two hours buddy, or just start watching the telly now just to be sure, to be sure....

risteard7

I'd love Williams to win it but I'd be worried about their strategy for the race. They've messed up a few times this year especially in Canada.

_rebelkid

risteard7 wrote: »

I'd love Williams to win it but I'd be worried about their strategy for the race. They've messed up a few times this year especially in Canada.

I don't think they messed up quite as badly as people think in Canada. Without the Perez incident, Massa would have easily been second, first if Massa had passed Perez earlier but Williams have a shorter ratio box, so he didn't have the speed.

lolie

Nice little graphic from Red Bull.

risteard7

_rebelkid wrote: »

I don't think they messed up quite as badly as people think in Canada. Without the Perez incident, Massa would have easily been second, first if Massa had passed Perez earlier but Williams have a shorter ratio box, so he didn't have the speed.

Yea maybe, what about the pit stop though?

_rebelkid

risteard7 wrote: »

Yea maybe, what about the pit stop though?

That was Felipe. He wrecked his rear tyres. He wouldn't have finished if they left him out. But it wasn't as bad as even Williams thought, looking at the speed of his last few laps.

Infoanon

_rebelkid wrote: »

That was Felipe. He wrecked his rear tyres. He wouldn't have finished if they left him out. But it wasn't as bad as even Williams thought, looking at the speed of his last few laps.

The first pit stop were there was a problem, without that he would have won.

2011

Gerhard Berger interview on Sky F1, "I must not say sh!t or fu@k".

Brilliant