This weekend noticed groups and drivers head to Spielberg, house of the Austrian Grand Prix. F1Technical’s senior author Balázs Szabó picks out the trivia ahead of Round 9 of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship.
Long historical past – Today’s race will probably be the thirty eighth FIA Formula One race held in Austria and the thirty sixth Austrian Grand Prix. The two races that didn’t bear the identify of the Austrian Grand Prix passed off in 2020 and 2021 when the Red Bull Ring hosted two races on consecutive weekends. Those two races had been run underneath the identify of the Styrian Grand Prix.
The first race in Austria was held in 1964 on a circuit at the Zeltweg Air Base. Due to its nature with bushes shut to the observe, the Zeltweg observe shortly disappeared from the F1 calendar. Constructed shut by, the Österreichring made its calendar debut 50 years in the past in 1970 and hosted the race till 1987. A shortened model of the circuit, named the A1-Ring, was used between 1997 and 2003, and now known as the Red Bull Ring, the observe has hosted the race since 2014.
The most profitable drivers – Alain Prost and Max Verstappen are the most profitable drivers at the Austrian Grand Prix with each of them having secured three victories apiece. The Frenchman clinched victories for Renault in 1983 after which for McLaren in 1985 and 1986. By successful in 2018, 2019 and 2021, Max Verstappen matched Prost’s file to equal the file of the four-time world champion. In truth, the Dutchman has 4 victories at this observe, having additionally gained the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix.
The most profitable groups – Ferrari and McLaren are the most profitable constructors at the Austrian Grand Prix with six wins apiece. Mercedes are the second most profitable staff, having gained on 5 events apiece, adopted by Lotus with 4 triumphs.
Short lap – The present iteration of the Red Bull Ring belongs to the shorter F1 circuit with its size of 4.318km. Drivers will want to circle 71 instances round the observe to cowl the whole race distance of 306.452km. It has simply 10 turns, the fewest of any circuits on the present calendar. Most of the turns are quick corners and are taken at comparatively low speeds.
The best lateral calls for come from two consecutive corners in the center sector, the solely left-handers in the lap. With simply three actual straights, the focus of tyre administration is as an alternative on traction and braking at a venue that has produced some thrilling racing since Formula 1 returned in 2014.
A tiny distinction – The begin and end strains will not be an identical at the Red Bull Ring with a distinction of 126m between the two strains.
The Spaniard– The quickest ever race lap belongs to Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard clocked a lap of 1m05.619s along with his McLaren in 2020. Last 12 months noticed Max Verstappen clock the quickest race lap with a 1m07.275s.
The third highest – The Red Bull Ring is positioned at 660m above sea stage which is the third-highest throughout the 12 months after the Hermanos Rodriguez observe in Mexico and the Carlos Pace circuit in Brazil. The excessive altitude places energy models underneath extra stress than at many venues and efficient cooling of engines typically presents a headache for groups at this circuit.
Plenty of alternatives – FIA has outlined three completely different DRS zones at the Red Bull Ring so as to present drivers with loads of alternatives to execute an overtaking manoeuvre in the 71-lap race. The first has a detection level 160m earlier than Turn 1 with an activation level 102m after Turn 1. The second zone has a detection level 40m earlier than Turn 3 and an activation level 100m after Turn 3. The detection level of the closing zone is 120m earlier than Turn 10, whereas its activation level is 106m after Turn 10.
The softest compounds – The Red Bull Ring in Austria is a brief and sharp rollercoaster with simply 10 corners and fixed elevation adjustments. Pirelli introduced the three softest tyres in the vary: C3 as the P Zero White arduous, C4 as the P Zero Yellow medium, and C5 as the P Zero Red comfortable.
Fast circuit – The Red Bull Ring, made up of simply 10 turns and a sequence of straights, is one of the quickest circuits on the calendar. Drivers spend greater than 70 per cent of the lap at full throttle. When it comes to the longevity of the DRS activation, additionally it is a record-breaker circuit as the three DRS zones cowl greater than a 3rd of the circuit.
Changes – A brand new verge between Turn 2 and Turn 3 has been added on each side of the observe. The verge behind the apex at Turn 8 has been shortened.
Debut race – Three drivers will make their debut at right this moment’s Austrian Grand Prix, though all of them have earlier experiences at the Red Bull Ring. Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant each raced right here in Eurocup and F3, and Nyck de Vries competed right here in a range of races together with ELMS, Formula Renault 3.5, GP3 and Formula 2.
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